Legion
 2010  3.2 stars 100 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 24/Jan/10
Legion Is a really, really good supernatural thriller/ horror w/ lots of action, good CGI, and top notch acting. The farfetched story goes with the territory and didn't adversely affect the entertainment value as far as I'm concerned. Outstanding overall! Finally Dennis Quaid is in a good movie, after years of some real duds. His best since Dreamscape and Enemy Mine. Tyrese Gibson, Charles S. Dutton did a great job, and even Lucas Black was good. Also Paul Bettany was good as Michael and Kevin Durand as Gabriel And let me not forget the ladies. Kate Walsh, Willa Holland, and Adrianne Palicki. Actually I thought everyone gave great performances. A must see for genre fans. (1/24/10)

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Dor
 2006  3.9 stars 63 mins Foreign (Hindi)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 05/Jan/10
Dor is a beautiful, sad, yet heartwarming film. It stars Gul Panag and Ayesha Takia. Two actresses that are both gorgeous but have serious non-glamorous roles here. In this story the husband of one of the women is accused of murdering the husband of the other. It may not sound that interesting but rest assured this is a well told moving story of love and forgiveness, that will touch even the coldest heart. The cinematography is excellent and the beautiful scenery is awe inspiring. The acting is all top notch. Actually I couldn't find a single flaw in this film. I enjoyed every minute of it and it was never boring. The info in the "details" that says this movie is only 63 minutes long is wrong. It's a little over 2 hours. This is a great movie that is not a musical, with no song and dance (unless it's in the context of the story). I recommend this for fans of Indian cinema, and for those that are not familiar with the genre, this is a good one to start with. (1/5/10)

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Ichi
 2008  3.4 stars 120 mins Foreign (Japanese)   Rated: R

Reviewed on 04/Jan/10
In the tradition of Zatoichi this is the story of a blind swordswoman. Now if you can't get past the impossibility factor, you had best stay away, but I see no reason why fans of the Zatoichi movies wouldn't appreciate this as well. Also fans of Japanese cinema in general and those who like lots of action and swordplay should really get into this movie. The cinematography is awesome as well as the soundtrack, and direction and acting is top notch. This is not a B movie but rather an exceptionally well done production. An added bonus is the fact that Haruka Ayase is an incredibly beautiful young actress and talented too. I definitely recommend this for fans of the genre, and for those who are not sure, or unfamiliar with it, this movie is a good introduction. (1/4/10)

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Up in the Air
 2009  4.0 stars 109 mins Drama   Rated: R

Reviewed on 03/Jan/10
Up in the air is a decent Romantic Comedy that will likely be appreciated by most George Clooney fans. Vera Farmiga never looked better and she did a good job. I think she is an underused and perhaps underrated actress who I expect to see a lot more of. I like both Melanie Lynskey and Danny McBride, unfortunately their parts were small. The movie is about a guy (Clooney) who flies around the country firing people. It's a good concept and there were some comic moments, but there was really nothing to make this movie shine, and I wouldn't call it outstanding. Even Romcom fans might be disappointed if they're expecting something great here. I saw it in the theater but unless you are a really big Clooney fan I think it would be best to wait for the DVD. It should be worth the rental but I can't really recommend it or not. I can only say I enjoyed it. (1/3/10)

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The Road
 2009  3.8 stars 113 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 29/Dec/09
In a post apocalyptic nightmare world how would one spend ones time? Starving, getting really dirty, and avoiding the cannibals of course! Now there is nothing wrong with that in itself and it sounds like it has possibilities as the premise of a decent movie, right? Well maybe so, but in this case it could have used more of... well anything! Now I have seen some pretty depressing movies in my day, but this one takes the cake. Dark, dirty, dim, depressing, and oh yeah (worst of all), boring. If there is one halfway redeeming quality, maybe at the end, I'm not telling. To find out you must share my pain and watch it yourself. One good thing I can think of is Viggo Mortenson's performance. Unfortunately that was not enough to save this bummer. If you don't believe me by all means see for yourself. At least you can't say I didn't warn you. (12/30/09)

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Fashion
 2008  3.4 stars 167 mins Foreign (Hindi)   Rated: NR  until 14-Aug-2010

Reviewed on 27/Dec/09
While checking out some Indian movies on Instant Watch I came across this one. It caught my attention and kept it. If you are like me and believe that Indian women are some of the most beautiful in the world and enjoy Indian movies, then feast your eyes on Fashion. Aside from the eye candy it has an interesting story and good acting. But the real treat is the fact that Priyanka Chopra is in virtually every scene. If there is a more gorgeous actress in the world I can't think of who it might be, although co-star Mugdha Godse may be a close second and Kanjana Renaut is no slouch either for that matter, and she gives an especially moving perfomance. The movie is about a beautiful young lady (played by you know who) who travels to Mumbai to pursue her dream of becoming a model. No scratch that, not model, supermodel! Success comes naturally for her but therein lies her downfall as her success turns her elegant innocence into arrogance and vice. This is a story of her rise to fame and fortune and subsequent downfall, a story of love and betrayal, of failure and redemption. It has some really good drama and at times I could barely hold back the tears. The male actors were also very good but for me the three lead actresses made this a memorable watch, and they are world class for sure. My only complaint is at 2 hours and 45 minutes it was a little too long, and at times it seemed to drag. I think about 2 hours would have been better. Apart from that I would say this is really a great movie, well written and well acted and directed and I definitely recommend it. (12/28/09)

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Goya's Ghosts
 2006  3.3 stars 114 mins Drama   Rated: R  until 01-Jun-2010

Reviewed on 26/Dec/09
This was a great historical drama, better than I expected, and very entertaining for me. It has a great cast, not one of which didn't give an outstanding performance. Stellan Skarsgard, the great character actor whose face everyone knows, even if not his name plays Francisco Goya, painter to the king. This is a story of the Catholic church in Spain re-implementing the Inquisition in the late 18th century and the victims caught up in the perverse practice of zealous torture they called "the question". Supposedly if the person interrogated had true faith in God, he would give them strength to deny the charges brought against them. Of course everyone confessed so obviously they were guilty. Natalie Portman gives a great performance playing a girl accused of being a Jew because she didn't like pork. Randy Quaid plays the King of Spain with his usual quirky flair while Javier Bardem rounds out the all star cast with an award worthy performance. Overall I think this is a great movie and I recommend it to all fans of great drama, and it does have some action too. I never found it boring. (12/26/09)

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Casi Divas
 2008  3.2 stars 107 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: PG-13  until 22-Jan-2011

Reviewed on 25/Oct/09
This is a light-hearted viewer friendly Mexican comedy. It's about girls competing to win a starring role in a movie based on a Telenovela. I know, it's not a genre you would expect me to like but this one is the exception to the rule. I'm a big fan of Maya Zapata, a young upcoming actress with much potential, and I admit I queued this for her. Now I am also a fan of Diana Garcia, another talented newcomer. I had seen her before in Sin Nombre and here she has a bigger role. There is nothing that makes this movie exceptional or especially memorable, and the English subtitles leave a lot to be desired. You don't have to understand Spanish to notice the translation is sub-par. However I have seen worse and I don't think it's enough to ruin it unless you are very critical in that area. If you are interested in the genre rent this, otherwise it's iffy. I gave it 4* because I liked it a lot but I know it's not for everyone. (10/25/09)

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The Ring Finger
 2005  2.7 stars 100 mins Foreign (French)   Rated: UR

Reviewed on 30/Aug/09
This is a quirky French film that I found quite enjoyable for several reasons not the least of which was the exquisite Olga Kurylenko. Here you can see what she was doing before Hitman, Max Payne and Quantam of Solace. She is arguably quite competent and talented, and I will gladly watch more of her movies as they become available. The beautiful and haunting score was mesmerizing and satisfying. The nudity is tastefully done in my opinion and the sex scenes are minimal. The slow pace and unusual story dictate that this will not be good for all viewers, especially those who don't like movie that are odd or "artsy" and without a conventional ending or resolution. For me it was a breath of fresh air after watching several mediocre dramas recently. Even so I hesitate to recommend this film except for fans of Olga Kurylenko and of French Cinema in general. I hope this helps to decide if it is right for you. (8/30/09)

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Exit Speed
 2008  3.0 stars 93 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 09/Aug/09
This is a gem of a B Action flick with nothing much not to like for a B Action fan like me. Those looking for cinematic excellence may think otherwise, and for that reason it may be best left to fans of the genre. Even so it is above average when compared to its peers. The evil (stuntmen) bikers were not intended to reflect reality and the movie couldn't have been this good if they were. I enjoyed the informative review by KP853573 who says his (her) uncle is a stuntman who played two of the Nomad biker gang members. Apparently all of the bikers are stuntmen which explains why they don't have any lines and why they are such good bike riders. Another interesting bit of trivia is that the bikes were dirt bikes disguised as crotch rockets. I read that review before seeing the movie and I'm glad to say there was no promotional exaggeration in it. This was a fun intense and yes, over the top wild ride of mayhem and debauchery. The violence is gratuitous and graphic, it goes with the territory. If that is a problem don't rent it. As a fan of Lea Thompson I was pleased with her in this and I never knew she could be such a tough girl. She is awesome. Fred Ward was cool although his role was not a major one. A couple of unknown actresses (to me) that are both gorgeous and talented, are Julie Mond and Alice Greczyn. They were both fun to watch (no, there was no nudity, sorry). All of the acting was decent for this type of movie, and like I said, for me there was really not much not to like. Recommended for B Action fans, just don't expect perfection. (8/8/09)

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Streets of Blood
 2009  2.7 stars 95 mins Thrillers   Rated: R  until 31-Dec-2011

Reviewed on 01/Aug/09
This is a hard driving gritty B action thriller that kept me on edge and turned out to be better than I expected. It was way better than the last movie I saw with Val Kilmer, which was Columbus Day. He does seem to do only B movies lately but I guess I shouldn't knock it, it's a paycheck. I think he's a good actor and it's unfortunate that we don't see him in some better new movies. 50 cent is not such a good actor but he seems to be getting better and he did alright here in his supporting role. Sharon Stone could have been given more involvement in the story and a more dramatic part. I think she was underused. Michael Biehn was good with his unlikable character. He usually is. Overall I enjoyed it and found it entertaining, but then I'm a fan of B action movies so I don't usually expect too much when I see one. The story was kind of ridiculous, exploitative, and predictable. The corrupt cops plot is so cliche and unoriginal it was definitely the weakest part of this production, however the action made up for it some. Any viewers who don't like their sex, violence, and nudity gratuitous should avoid this as well as children and sensitive viewers in general. For me the exploitative element was not a problem, it goes with the territory. I can honestly say I liked this but can hardly recommend it. It should be worthwhile for B action fans, but most other viewers should probably pass. (8/2/09)

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Piedras Verdes
 2001  2.6 stars 95 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 29/Jul/09
There are better Mexican movies, but I really enjoyed this although I'm not sure why. There's not a lot of action, the drama is not intense, and the plot is minimal. The synopsis is almost completely wrong on every detail. It's basically a coming of age story of an adopted girl trying to find her roots. This is an odd kind of quirky film with an independent feel, but I wouldn't really call it weird. The strong points are cinematography, acting, and the general "feel" of it. The star, Vanessa Bauche is a cutie who plays her part well. She's the girl from Amorres Perros. The English subtitles are very well translated, which is a plus for those viewers who don't understand Spanish. Overall it's good but I hesitate to recommend this to all. Watch it at your own risk. Subjectively I can honestly say I liked it a lot, but I suspect many viewers will not. (7/30/09)

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American Outrage
 2007  3.6 stars 56 mins Documentary   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 27/Jul/09
This is an excellent documentary. I hesitated to rent it knowing it would anger me to no end. However if you are a fan of Native American Cinema as I am this is a must see. Besides the history lesson it reminds us who really runs the country and how little value is given to U.S. treaties and the survivors of genocide. With a tear in my eye and sadness and anger in my heart I bore witness to a story as timeless as civilization itself. It's the story of the powerful exploiting, marginalizing, and crushing the weak and downtrodden as well as the degradation of our Mother Earth. For those who think the persecution of Indians is over because a few tribes got casinos, think again. This film was given the perfect name. Only someone with a heart of stone, or no interest at all in (or sympathy for) the plight of indigenous peoples, could help from being outraged by the events documented in this film. The story is sad but it needs to be told, and I applaud the filmmakers for telling it, and I wish the best for the Western Shoshone Defense Project. (7/28/09)

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Outlander
 2008  3.4 stars 115 mins Sci-Fi & Fantasy   Rated: R

Reviewed on 23/Jul/09
There is plenty to like in this movie, and plenty to pick apart if you want to be critical. I for one enjoyed the heck out of it, and there was never a dull moment. I admit the CGI monster was not the greatest, but I let it slide. The story and action made up for it. The acting was good, especially John Hurt and Ron Perlman as well as the beautiful Sophia Miles. Caviezel was alright but seemed rather subdued. This movie reminded me of the 13th Warrior although it's not that good. They have a lot in common even though the 13th Warrior was not Science Fiction. They have a similar look and feel. While the story takes place in Norway and the beautiful scenery looks like it, it was actually filmed entirely in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. This adventure Sci-fi is not perfect but I found a lot to like about it and I would gladly watch it again. Recommended. (7/24/09)

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Gunmen
 1994  2.9 stars 96 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R

Reviewed on 23/Jul/09
You have got to be a B action fan to get into this. Anyone looking for blockbuster production values and/ or an intelligent plot or script should not even take a chance. The first clue would be the 2 lead actors. I happen to be a fan of both of them, but I know what I'm getting into when I rent one of their movies. I wasn't disappointed. Christopher Lambert was over the top crazy, even more than usual and Mario was cool too. This movie has lots of action with lots of shooting and some explosions. Everything was pretty ridiculous but for me it was undeniably fun. I consider this 3.5* and I vacillated between rounding up or down before finally settling for 3*. Objectively this movie is not that good but I must admit I liked it. I think I would even watch it again sometime. (7/24/09)

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Sin Dejar Huella
 2000  3.4 stars 109 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 18/Jul/09
It is hard to describe this movie in terms of genre and it is hard for me to predict who will like this and who may not. There is some action and some adventure although I wouldn't call it an Action Adventure flick. It's not a Romance and it's too much fun to be called a Drama. It's a Road Trip flick and much more. The synopsis makes it sound like a chick flick but it's not, and even though it is about two ladies, there is plenty there for a man to like. The two lead actresses are not stunning but they are undeniably attractive and while their characters started out as only borderline likable, as the story developed they became more and more so. Jesus Ochoa plays a sleezy federal cop. I've seen him in a lot of Mexican movies lately, usually as a bad guy, and he is a really good actor. Aitana Sanchez-Gijon plays Ana. She looked familiar to me so I looked her up and discovered she costarred with Keanu Reeves in "A Walk in the Clouds". Tiare Scanda plays Aurelia. She was new to me but I am a big fan now and I hope to see more of her in the future. The two main characters are both on the run for different reasons. As they get to now each other the chemistry developes naturally and I felt the bond that was created between them. The scenery is awesome, especially in the Yucatan, and the local architecture is amazing. The English subtitles were not the best but decent. I don't expect everyone will like this movie, but I think most fans of Mexican cinema will. Personally I loved it. (7/19/09)

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Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
 1944  3.1 stars 87 mins Classics   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 17/Jul/09
What a fun action adventure fantasy that is great for the whole family! Filmed in Technicolor in 1944 and the picture quality is excellent. Good production values for when it was made. This is a good choice for everyone except those who don't like classics for one reason or another. Grab the popcorn and the kids and get ready for a good old fashioned fun time. I recommend it. (7/18/09)

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Erendira Ikikunari
 2006  2.4 stars 117 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 17/Jul/09
A commendable effort with some interesting visuals that I really wanted to like but couldn't. Still I hesitate to give it only 2* because I think it will be worthwhile for some viewers. However in all honestly I didn't like it for myself. This is an Art House film. There is nothing wrong with that but for me it got boring. I actually liked "the making of" in the special features better than the movie. The director even referred to the movie as opera-like and therein lies the problem for me. Realism is not present nor is it intended but rather a lot of symbolism, mythology, and "art". It is basically a play. The story is a legend or myth about a young lady who rebels against her role in a male dominated society, and against a handful of Spanish invaders. It is filmed in Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico using local native Indians as well as some from the Morelia area, all non actors. The local actors spoke Purepecha (their native tongue) while those from outlying areas learned their lines in that dialect. The local custom of putting on plays and parades portraying the spanish conquest with colorful locally made wooden masks was represented in the movie so when the Indians fought with the invaders some of the handful of "Spaniards" were wearing masks that were caricatures of themselves. I hope this has been helpful. I don't mean to run it down and I'm sure it will work for some viewers. I enjoyed some of the scenes and I can appreciate the effort, but the overall style is not for me. My intent is not to discourage others from renting this, but rather to inform. If you are into Art House films you might want to give it a try. (7/18/09)

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The Old Fairy Tale: When the Sun Was God
 2003  2.8 stars 135 mins Foreign (Polish)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 15/Jul/09
Considering this was my first introduction to Polish Cinema it was surprisingly good. Of course I was hoping for something good when I rented, but I often take chances on obscure titles like this, and needless to say it doesn't always pay off. Of course I don't always agree with other reviews, but I'm happy to say this time the first two reviewers did not steer me wrong. What we have here is a fun action adventure sword and sorcery fantasy flick. It is actually a 3 episode made for TV miniseries but that doesn't detract from it. If it was rated it would be R for graphic violence and a little nudity so you may not want your younger kids to see it. All in all I consider this a hidden gem. Recommended for genre fans. (7/16/09)

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The Human Contract
 2008  2.7 stars 107 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 12/Jul/09
This is a pretty good thriller that could have been better. Paz Vega gave a flawless performance and generally outclassed everyone else except for maybe Jada Pinkett Smith who did a good job in her bit part as the abused sister. Smith's acting was better than her directing job, but it was not bad for her first feature movie. For me the writing and casting had problems. Jason Clarke brought his character over from the TV show Brotherhood and there was no believable chemistry between him and Paz Vega's character. I just couldn't imagine her attraction to him being real. I understand the logic behind it but the execution didn't quite pull it off in my opinion. Overall I found this movie to be entertaining and not boring, but I can really only recommend it for Paz Vega fans. For me she made it worthwhile. (7/14/09)

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Undefeatable
 1993  2.5 stars 95 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R

Reviewed on 06/Jul/09
This is a fun B martial arts action flick complete with bad acting, cheesy lines and absurd plot. That's not to say it's bad... well, yeah I guess it is bad, but so bad it's pretty good. It reminded me of 70's or 80's style exploitation flicks. The fighting is pretty good. The violence is completely gratuitous and unapologetically so. For those who like schlock mixed with martial arts this could be worth your while. I was entertained, amused, and never bored so I can't complain. I can't recommend this to all, but for fans of B action and exploitation I say go for it. (7/7/09)

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Los Bastardos
 2008  2.2 stars 90 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: NR  until 02-Sep-2011

Reviewed on 03/Jul/09
There is less happening in this movie than the synopsis would lead one to believe. There really is no plot to speak of. It appears be a below average student film. The opening scene of 2 guys walking toward the camera in real time from 1/4 mile away is an indication of what is to come, and that is a lot of long tedious scenes with little or no dialogue. I think most of the budget was spent on one violent scene with some bloody FX. If you are into really slow super low budget movies made with non professional actors and overall poor production values you might like this, but for me it really was a waste of time. (7/4/09)

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Fuera del Cielo
 2006  3.0 stars 112 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: R

Reviewed on 03/Jul/09
This is a well acted dark and dirty Mexican drama. Very nihilistic with truly unlikable characters who've got no redeeming qualities. Except for maybe the daughter. I guess she was likable. Anyway you will see what I mean if you watch it. And then there are the victims who are good people but unpleasant in their own ways. The main characters are perverse and depraved sociopaths. Oh yes, and stupid too. But the story though simple was interesting and suspenseful. It's not really about much other than showing a day in the life of some unsavory characters. Despite all that I really did enjoy this. Unfortunately it had some of the worst English subtitles I've ever seen on a Spanish language film. I'm fluent in Spanish but I usually turn the subtitles on so I can see how well they are done and relate that to my non Spanish speaking friends. They were translated terribly. For example one brother kept calling the other "carnal" which means brother and they kept translating it as "buddy". Once a character said "ya intendi" or "I understand now", and they translated it as "I didn't understand". The exact opposite! I give this movie 3.5* and I would have rounded up if not for the bad subtitles. Also anyone who needs happy endings or feel good story lines should pass on this. I can really only recommend it to viewers who understand Spanish and like dark dirty dramas. (7/4/09)

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Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li
 2009  2.9 stars 96 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: UR

Reviewed on 03/Jul/09
Having read some of the reviews of this I wasn't expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised. As I look over the reviews again I can't believe I watched the same movie they are talking about. My expectations were low but not that low! This is a fun entertaining martial arts action flick. There is nothing really great about it and it's mostly B style but that's no reason to hate it. Of course I'm not familiar with the video game and maybe that's where all the hate is coming from. This is actually the best movie I've seen all week. I know that's not saying a lot but it's something. The martial arts choreography used a lot of wire which I'm not real fond of, the shootouts were mostly over the top (typical bad guys have bad aim scenarios) ridiculous, and the acting was not great but it was decent. However the story was fun and the characters were likable, at least the good guys, played by Kristin Kreuk, Moon Goodblood, Chris Klein, and Robin Shou. The bad guys were likable too (in a love to hate kind of way) especially the evil Bison played by Neal McDonough. Michael Clark Duncan was really good too as his "muscle". Well, I think I've defended this as much as I want to and I will finish by saying I won't recommend this popcorn flick to everyone, but I think a lot of B action fans will find it worthwhile, as I did. (7/4/09)

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Body Armour
 2007  2.9 stars 91 mins Thrillers   Rated: R  until 16-Jun-2010

Reviewed on 28/Jun/09
Anyone looking for technical excellence should avoid this. On the other hand fans of the B Action genre might find it worth watching. Don't get me wrong, even in that category it is average or below. A bodyguard protecting at hit man who is his mortal enemy is the basic plot. As bad as that sounds it could have been better executed. I enjoyed this bad movie because I was able to laugh at the ridiculous story, unlikely situations, and continuity snafus. Chazz Palminteri leads a mostly foreign cast. I can't blame him for taking on this role, after all a paycheck's a paycheck and like most of us I'm sure he would rather work than not. The acting is not that bad in itself but the cheesy lines are unforgivable. That is unless of course you are wearing your "so bad it's good" hat as I was. If you would like to pick it apart feel free to do so. Either that or complete suspension of disbelief is required to enjoy this questionable B Action flick. So next time you are in a forgiving mood grab some popcorn and give it a spin... or not. For me this was 2.5* but I have to round up because I can't honestly say I didn't like it. I guess just I'm a sucker for cheese. If you would like to watch a better B movie with more action and better stunts see Direct Contact starring Dolph Lundgren and filmed in Bulgaria no less. (6/29/09)

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The Front Line
 2007  3.4 stars 90 mins Thrillers   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 27/Jun/09
Some movies take a commitment of patience, suspension of disbelief, or at least the benefit of the doubt. Few are like this one. After just a few minutes I knew I was watching a good movie. It turned out to be an excellent action thriller. Top notch production values with plenty of action and drama make this entertaining and evocative. The horrors of tribal conflicts in the Congo provide a background and subplot for our protagonist and the main story. Mentally and emotionally scarred victims of that war trying to start a new life in Ireland, become victims of crime once again and that brings back a flood of horrific memories of an inescapable past. The acting is great and the story is interesting and suspenseful. For those who have a problem with extreme violence, it is not gratuitous, exploitative or overly graphic, but is presented with a certain element of class. Cross a heist flick with Hotel Rwanda and it could look something like this. Highly recommended for genre fans. (6/28/09)

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Bawandar
 2000  3.0 stars 125 mins Foreign (Hindi)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 27/Jun/09
Bawander is a true story of social injustice and cruelty. It shows the results of age old prejudices when carried to the extreme in the name of tradition. Most viewers will be saddened and angered, so those who have a low tolerance for depressing movies should pass. This is a serious film with no Bollywood style musical numbers. The picture quality is not good and overall production values could be better. The acting is passable but not stellar. Nandita Das is gorgeous but the poor lighting does not do her justice. Her dark skin often seems to be hidden in shadow. The English subtitles are not well done. Sometimes they change too fast unless you are a speed reader. I recommend this only to those interested in the subject of women's rights and their advocates' struggle, or a look into Indian societal issues like the caste and village politics. For me this movie was worth watching once and I don't regret it. If not for the aforementioned negative issues, I would have rated it higher. Positive factors are an interesting and important story and decent acting. (6/28/09)

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Nicotina
 2003  3.0 stars 93 mins Foreign   Rated: R

Reviewed on 21/Jun/09
Quirky dark comedy that entertains through good acting and an interesting story that is mainly a series of coincidences. There is a kind of subplot of cigarette smoking, thus the name Nicotina. Smokers, anti-smokers, some who just quit or are trying to, others who justify it, and those who criticize it. It illustrates that smoking can kill in more ways than one. Of course the movie is not about smoking, it just has some clever plot twists related to it. It's actually about a hacker and a heist. Also a henpecked barber, an abused pharmacist's wife, and a couple of cops add to the story. Overall this is not a great movie but a rather fun dramedy that fans of Mexican cinema should enjoy. For the rest of you who knows? Recommended with reservations. (6/22/09)

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Jumong: Vol. 4
 2007  3.3 stars 1200 mins Foreign (Korean)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 20/Jun/09
As I watched the last episode of Jumong I was happy and sad at the same time. Happy because I love the series so much, but sad because it had to end. I would love to own it but 28 discs = a lot of $. As time goes by I hope the price goes down and I'll buy the entire series. This Korean Historical Drama puts American Television to shame. Consider dramas like Lost or The Shield (both of which I'm a fan of). When a new season comes out what do you get? About 12 to 14 episodes that are about 42 minutes long after you take out the commercials. Then you have to wait a whole year to see another season. In Korea fans of Jumong got to watch 2 new episodes per week every week for 9 1/2 months straight. That's a total of 81 episodes. Every episode is original and the story never gets repetitive. Each episode is 1 hour and 5 minutes (the show itself, I don't know how much commercial time was added). Vol.'s 1 2 3 & 4 were not seasons, they were shown continuously nonstop. The show debuted shortly after they started filming and just kept going to the end. Obviously Hollywood studios can't compete with that kind of production. I realize budget constraints, permits, insurance, unions, and other factors contribute to the fact that loyal fans get only a dozen or so episodes per year of their favorite TV shows. Jumong is awesome. Highly stylized drama, with excellent character development that stays consistent throughout, and romance and action as well as spectacular cinematography make this a unique viewing experience. I can't recommend it enough. This is my absolute favorite TV series to date, bar none. Watching the 1st disc should be enough to get most viewers hooked. It was for me. (6/21/09)

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Amu
 2005  3.4 stars 98 mins Drama   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 14/Jun/09
A young woman who was adopted at the age of 3 and raised in America travels to India to discover her roots and learn about her birth parents. Konkona Sem Sharma is a talented and attractive actress and her character is very likable. In fact all of the characters are pretty much likable and despite the fact that this is a serious drama it is really not that dark. The subject matter which includes horrific violence is treated in a non-exploitative and not too graphic manner. The production values are very professional and all of the acting is good and the story is interesting. This movie is not Bollywood style (no singing and dancing). I recommend it for all fans of foreign cinema and good drama. (6/15/09)

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Crossing Over
 2009  3.2 stars 113 mins Drama   Rated: R

Reviewed on 13/Jun/09
This entertaining drama is undeniably controversial, but I don't watch movies like this for any certain political views. The film takes a sympathetic view of illegal immigrants and even a young terrorist sympathizer (played by the lovely Summer Bishil). Viewers with liberal leanings will not mind, while many conservatives may want to avoid this movie altogether. I enjoyed the top notch acting. I really like Ashley Judd, Cliff Curtis and Summer Bishil and their performances were my favorites. Of course Harrison Ford was good as was Ray Liotta as usual and I thought the newcomer (for me anyways) Alice Eve did a good job too. Actually the entire cast was good. I really liked this movie but my praise of it is not an endorsement of any particular political point of view. I like it for the entertainment value and it is a very good drama. I recommend this, but not for all viewers, for obvious reasons. (6/14/09)

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Direct Contact
 2009  2.7 stars 90 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R  until 03-Jul-2010

Reviewed on 09/Jun/09
At times I tire of searching through endless obscure titles and unreviewed new releases for that diamond in the rough that so often eludes me. Mediocre flicks and stinkers get old after awhile. But I keep looking and sometimes it pays off with a hidden gem like this. For a B action flick starring Dolph Lungren and filmed in Bulgaria this turned out to be much better than I expected. It is surprisingly entertaining and just a really fun popcorn flick. The acting is not great, but not bad. There is little or no CGI but the good old fashioned stunts are awesome, especially the car chases with lots of crashes. There is lots of action and fight scenes are good. It has an international cast with three or four American actors and lots Bulgarian extras, and of course Dolph Lundgren is Swedish. It's all in English though (not dubbed) so subtitle haters can relax. There is some unintentionally funny continuity mistakes like a car chase scene that starts out sunny and dry, then raining, then snow on the ground, then back to sunny and dry all during the same chase. This might not be a good rent for who see that as a problem and that's where being a fan of the B action genre helps. The high points are lots of hand-to-hand combat, over the top shootouts, top notch car chases and bookoo explosions. Oh yeah, and the lead actress is not hard on the eyes. Overall this is better than your average B action flick and I think a lot of Hollywood studios wish they could make movies half this good for twice the cost. Hats off to Bulgarian cinema! Kudos! (6/10/09)

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Jumong: Vol. 3
 2007  3.5 stars 1260 mins Foreign (Korean)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 07/Jun/09
Vol. 3 was every bit as good as I anticipated and I've started on Vol. 4 (the last) now. This whole series has 28 discs (81 episodes total) so if you only watched 1 disc (usually 3 episodes) per week you could make the series last over 6 months. But I have never been one to make things last and it only took me 2 weeks to watch Vol. 3 (seven discs, 21 1 hour+ episodes). I just can't get enough of this series. Unfortunately at that rate it will be over soon. In this (season) Jumong unites the scattered tribes of ancient Josun to create a new nation. The Damul Army has grown in size and skills and the steel weapons including armor piercing arrowheads developed by master blacksmith Mopalmo have proven superior to the weapons of the Han. Sosuhno has reclaimed her position as Chief of Keru and her relationship with Jumong is devoloping once again. As always the drama is top notch and the action spectacular. Anyone who hasn't seen this should start with Vol. 1 and if you are not hooked by the end of the first disc, then let it go. I would be willing to bet, unless you have a problem with subtitles you will love this series too, and enjoy it from beginning to end. Jumong has created fond memories that will last forever in my heart and mind. (6/8/09)

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Anacondas: Trail of Blood
 2009  2.7 stars 88 mins Horror   Rated: R

Reviewed on 06/Jun/09
The sequel to Anaconda 3: The Offspring is more of the same and it begs the question, why? Well I guess you can make movies so cheaply in Romania that a profit can be made on people like me renting them. I actually got a kick out of 3 and now (4) Anacondas: Trail of Blood to lesser degree. I'm not sure why I like watching big snakes (or other reptiles) eat people but for some reason I do. This was not as good (or bad) as A-3, in fact all the Anaconda flicks have gotten progressively worse which is typical I guess of sequels, especially B monster flicks. Still I can't say I didn't like this because I (barely) did, however I can't recommend it except for those who already know they have a tolerance for stinkers like this. Most people should probably avoid it. (6/7/09)

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The Hit
 1984  3.3 stars 98 mins Drama   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 03/Jun/09
Tim Roth was only 23 years old when he starred in this but even then, you can see he was off to a good start as a great actor. He plays a naive and conflicted hit man's assistant and wannabe tough guy named Myron who is at times both obnoxious and likable. He is in over his head and his softhearted tendencies get in the way of his boss's agenda. John Hurt is the stoic hit man who seems to be underacting most of the time but it's obvious his character is one coldhearted sob. He's is the most unlikable of the three but plays his role well. Terence Stamp plays an extremely likable, cool, calm, suave, and serene retired criminal in the European equivalent of the witness protection program. Laura del Sol rounds out the cast as the hot Spanish bimbo thrown into the mix for good measure. Spectacular scenery of the Spanish countryside adds to the pleasure of this fun and satisfying film. It is mostly drama but it does have some action and a few humorous moments as well. I recommend this for something different and especially if you like the actors. (6/4/09)

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Too Young to Die?
 1990  3.2 stars 93 mins Drama   Rated: R

Reviewed on 01/Jun/09
Entertaining performances by Juliette Lewis and Brad Pitt make this a worthwhile watch. Fans of "based on true events" movies should like this, but as usual I'm skeptical of the accuracy of the story. The film tends to treat the murderer as a victim but it gives no explanation for her actions other than drug induced (temporary) insanity which was not part of the defense. But rather than analyze it too much I think it's best taken for what it is. A decent TV movie with great acting by a couple of stars when they were younger, and a good way to spend an hour and a half. Just don't expect too much from it. It's good, not great. (6/2/09)

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Killshot
 2009  3.1 stars 95 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 31/May/09
This is a decent thriller that is more drama than action. It kept my attention throughout, but there were some issues with the story and characters that might bother some viewers. Mainly it's a good choice for fans of the actors. I'm a big fan of Mickey Rourke, Rosario Dawson and Diane Lane. (Just a heads up for fans of Johnny Knoxville, don't rent this expecting to see him in it. The information in the synopsis is wrong. He is not in this movie!) Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a young petty criminal that professional hitman Blackbird (Rourke's character) takes under his wing. It's not clear why, but apparently he reminds him of his deceased younger brother. Rosario Dawson doesn't have a big part but I found her satisfying whenever she was on screen. Diane Lane fans will be happy with her usual brilliance. Thomas Jane was just alright. Mickey Rourke was good but didn't quite fit his character's background (part Indian raised on a reservation). Overall I found this movie entertaining, but I know it's not for everyone. Don't go into it expecting a lot of action and it should be worthwhile as long as you like the cast. (6/1/09)

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Drag Me to Hell
 2009  3.2 stars 99 mins Horror   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 30/May/09
This is one campy horror flick that is a hell of a lot of fun. Get ready to be startled with lots of jump scares. Its obvious when they are coming as the music (noise) builds to a crescendo and even though you are expecting it, when it comes it still makes you jump, but also laugh, partly out of nervousness but also at the cheesiness of it all. The special effects are creepy, gross, and funny at the same time and the convenient situations and cliches will keep you laughing and grossed out at the same time. I think most fans of the Evil Dead series will not be disappointed with this new offering from Sam Raimi. Alison Lohman gives a good performance as did the rest of the cast but Lorna Raver really excels as Mrs. Ganush, the evil hag that puts a curse on loan officer Christine Brown for not giving her an extension on her past due motgage payment. I also think Adriana Barraza's portrayal of the gypsy who performed a seance to try to remove the curse, was phenomenal. She is such a good actress and did a great job here. I'm not giving away anything that's not in the trailers (no spoilers). I can't believe this got a PG-13 rating. I guess it doesn't matter how much gore and violence is in a movie as long as there is no sex or nudity. A couple of topless shots could have added to the campiness and earned it the R rating it deserves. Anyway it should be alright for any young teens that are already into horror but for others it might be iffy. As for the rest of you horror fans, I highly recommend this entertaining addition to the genre. (5/31/09)

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Terminator: Salvation
 2009  3.6 stars 115 mins Sci-Fi & Fantasy   Rated: PG-13

Reviewed on 26/May/09
Not as good as the first three but then I wasn't expecting it to be, so at least I wasn't disappointed. But oh how I would have loved to be surprised, unfortunately it was not to be. I have read a lot of people say they didn't like T3 so much and I don't know why, since it is my favorite. Next is the original and T2 is my least favorite of the three. But for me all of them are 5* and some of my all-time favorite movies. By comparison this seemed kind of soulless but with lots of over the top action. The story was lacking and even Christian Bale who is a great actor did not shine as John Connor. His character was tough but shallow. Sam Worthington was good as Marcus but there was no explanation of why he did what he did. I want to say more on that point but I don't want to risk a spoiler. Maybe when you see it you will know what I mean. My favorite newcomer was the exquisitely pleasing Moon Bloodgood who's character was one of the most likable. The movie was mostly about the blend of special effects and fast action and reminded me of the Transformer movie although is was not quite that fast and it was better. Is this worthy of the name Terminator? Not really, but judging it on it's own it is a pretty good Sci-Fi action flick and I enjoyed it quite a bit. (5/27/09)

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Irina Palm
 2007  3.4 stars 103 mins Drama   Rated: R  until 14-Apr-2010

Reviewed on 25/May/09
A couple of my friends really liked this, so maybe that's why I was expecting more than I got. But the drama was not great, and the story was unusual but only slightly amusing, and not remarkable at all. It had no really funny parts. I can't say much about the story without giving a spoiler, but it's got a twist that's sort of the British version of the Oriental Massage business in the U.S. At least it was not boring and It kept me mildly entertained. I can't really recommend it but I won't say avoid it either. Don't let your young kids watch it. (5/26/09)

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The Last Zapatistas, Forgotten Heroes
 2002  3.4 stars 90 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 25/May/09
This a good documentary with excellent English subtitles that is worthwhile for anyone interested in Mexican history. It is a bit slow, and requires a certain level of patience from the viewer. The parallels drawn between the past and present show that the rights gained in the revolution have eroded and the same issue of land ownership for the poor is an ongoing problem today. It is interesting to see that from the point of view of those who fought alongside Emiliano Zapata. Que Viva Zapata! (5/26/09)

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Jumong: Vol. 2
 2007  3.6 stars 1200 mins Foreign (Korean)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 23/May/09
Vol. 2 is a continuation of the same story with the same characters as Vol. 1 except for those (of course) who have died and a few new ones that have been added. Each character has his or her own unique personality which is well developed and stays true to itself as time goes by. The characters are what make this a really great series, although the drama, action, costumes, martial arts, and cinematography all contribute to an overall satisfying experience. Let me not forget to mention that there are many lighter moments of comic relief too. If there is one negative thing I guess it would be the lack of realism. Think of it as a fantasy and that won't be a problem. Vol. 2 is just as awesome as Vol. 1 and I'm looking forward to 3 & 4. I just wish it could go on forever. I think the only people who won't like this are those that can't handle subtitles. Other than that I recommend it to everyone. (5/24/09)

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Angels & Demons
 2009  3.7 stars 138 mins Thrillers   Rated: PG-13  starting 11-Mar-2010

Reviewed on 17/May/09
The Da Vinci Code was entertaining and I enjoyed it as a decent action adventure flick. But this sequel (or prequel?) took me completely by surprise. I'm not sure what I was expecting but it wasn't the sophisticated high budget schlock this turned out to be. I don't know what Ron Howard was thinking but I guess the guy is a genius and now he is laughing all the way to the bank. Luckily I was able to not take it seriously otherwise I might have hated it, but it turned out to be a fun flick I could laugh at. I'm talking about a chuckle a minute with a plot so ridiculous it made National Treasure look intelligent. So bad it had more cheesy plot twists than you could shake a stick at. Ayelet Zurer is talented upcoming actress and not hard on the eyes, but she's no Audrey Tatou. However I do admit she looks more like a physicist than Audrey ever could have. There are so many things wrong with this movie and I would love to pick it apart but I don't want to give away any spoilers. Let me just say the anti-matter takes the cake when it comes to ridiculousness. All the stupid details kept my attention and made this so bad that is was good enough to say I liked it. I'm not going to recommend it but I won't say it should be avoided either. I can't predict anyone's reaction. Judging from the other reviews I seem to be the only one who thought it was funny. (5/18/09)

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O' Jerusalem
 2006  3.1 stars 100 mins Drama   Rated: R

Reviewed on 17/May/09
This the story of the creation of Israel that is melodramatic, over simplified, and unbelievable, in the details anyway. While I am by no means a historian or expert on the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict even I can see the writing leaves a lot to be desired. However the acting and cinematography were good enough to make it entertaining for me. Of course a movie that tells a story of this historical importance should be more than just entertaining. It is controversial at the very least. Recommended for those who want to critique it. You may or may not like it and some will surely hate it. I only liked it enough for a low borderline 3*, mainly for the acting. (5/18/09)

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Duel
 1971  3.6 stars 90 mins Thrillers   Rated: PG

Reviewed on 17/May/09
Dennis Weaver gives a stupendous performance as the harried victim of road rage in this great thriller. This made for TV movie was Steven Spielberg's directing debut but there is nothing typical or cheesy about it. It may be low budget but it is excellent storytelling at it's best. Although it doesn't have much of a plot you are drawn into it by it's raw emotion and suspense. This is easily big screen quality and a testament to the skills of one of the great directors of our time. In my opinion it's better than The Sugarland Express which was his next film and big screen debut. It was good but not as good a Duel. A nightmare scenario unfolds on a Southern California Highway as a man fight's for his life trying to escape the attacks of a psycho truck driver who makes him an unwilling participant in a deadly game. At times he seems to be toying him but does he really want to kill him? Watch it to find out. I saw this years ago on TV but I finally rented the DVD and I'm glad I did. It was well worthwhile, and I recommend it. (5/18/09)

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Under the Bombs
 2007  3.6 stars 98 mins Foreign (Arabic)   Rated: NR  until 05-May-2016

Reviewed on 16/May/09
This is an excellent foreign film about the ravages of the Israeli war against Hezbollah that shows the devastation in southern Lebanon to homes, highways and bridges, and lives of the Lebanese people. It is a very personal story of a mother searching for her missing six year old son and her sister. The lead actors are likable and believable and one feels their pain naturally and completely. This is drama that is realistic and sad. "Feel good" fans may want to pass. Also Israelis may consider this film one-sided and from their point of view I'm sure it is. But the story is more human than political and has no religious agenda. Great acting and a very real and touching story make this film very worthwhile. In Arabic but with good English subtitles. Recommend for fans of foreign dramas. (5/17/09)

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As Far as My Feet Will Carry Me
 2003  3.8 stars 122 mins Foreign (German)   Rated: NR  until 10-Feb-2012

Reviewed on 16/May/09
This excellent German film is a true story of a prisoner of war who escaped from a slave labor camp years after the end of WWII. His journey is a testament to the courage and will of the human spirit and an epic story of survival. Top notch acting and overall production values as well as awesome panoramas of the siberian wilderness and bleak arctic landscapes make this an entertaining and enlightening experience. This is one I would recommend to anyone except for those who have a problem with subtitles. (5/17/09)

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The Everglades
 2009  3.0 stars 50 mins Documentary   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 14/May/09
This is very informative but not as entertaining as some other National Geographic documentaries. But it is worthwhile and better than watching on TV with commercials. Among the issues explored are habitat displacement and water diversion for human expansion that is resulting in the demise of a beautiful resource, and also the problem of invasive species. I learned some things I didn't know like how slowly the water moves and how elevation changes of just inches effect the ecology of the Everglades. I recommend this documentary if you care about nature. (5/15/09)

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Star Trek
 2009  4.3 stars 126 mins Sci-Fi & Fantasy   Rated: PG-13

Reviewed on 10/May/09
Star Trek is back. The remaking of the story and characters for a new generation of viewers and the rebirth of a franchise achieves what Hollywood Blockbusters often strive for but few attain. All of the cast members fit there characters well, in varying degrees, but ultimately to the satisfaction of this humble viewer at least. To compare it too closely to the original TV series or the previous movies would be to cling too closely to the past, and unfair to a great movie. Styles change with the times as do viewers. I am happy to say this is now my favorite Star Trek movie which previously was Star Trek II: the Wrath of Khan. The FX have always been top notch in all of the Star Trek movies and are as good or better than ever in this one. But what sets it apart from the rest is the action. With much more than ever before it kept me on the edge of my seat for a thrilling two hour ride. My only complaint would be the ultra quick and shaky camera techniques and editing during the fight scenes, that in my opinion started as a fad but has now become a veritable curse in recent years. But relatively speaking it is not that bad and I have become jaded enough to resign myself to it until shaky cam fatigue pushes me over the edge. Luckily it never reached that level as that can ruin an otherwise good movie. Enough of the negative, it wasn't a major issue. Not enough to topple a 5* rating. This is one movie I highly recommend to all. (5/11/09)

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Guiana 1838
 2004  2.0 stars 120 mins Drama   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 04/May/09
This is an interesting film from a historical perspective, and it's a very ambitious endeavor, but it seems to suffer from a low budget. It could have used a bigger cast, better actors, and better writing. It's about slaves (coolies) imported from India under the guise of indentured servitude in response to political pressure (from England) to emancipate the African slaves in Guiana and other British colonies. This was a long wait in my queue for months before it got moved to the saved section. The synopsis sounded interesting to me so I bought it from Amazon. I can't say it was worth buying but it would be worth a rental. It's in English (no subtitles) but the heavy accents (mainly the British and African accents) are a little hard to understand at times. The Indian accents are not as bad. I can't recommend this unless you are interested in the subject matter. In that case rent it if you ever get a chance. (5/5/09)

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Jumong
 2006  3.4 stars 1200 mins Foreign (Korean)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 03/May/09
What an amazing series! It is so entertaining my wife and I can't wait to get the next disc in the mail. It's the highlight or our movie watching and we can't get enough of it. Most other TV series and movies pale by comparison. We are currently watching Volume 2. With 4 volumes of 7 discs each we will be able to enjoy this series for quite awhile. After that we may just want to start over again. This is fun family fare. The violence is not realistic and mostly bloodless. It's an action adventure fantasy drama. The fighting choreography is expertly done and pleasing to watch. There are sad parts balanced with uplifting moments. The acting is all top notch and beautifully stylized. The exquisite costumes and pageantry are all part of the great cinematography as well as beautiful scenery. The subtitles are some of the most user friendly I have ever seen. Never too fast and they always make sense. For me all of the characters are likable, even the bad guys. I recommend this to everyone. I can't imagine anyone not liking it. This series is awesome! I can't praise it enough. (5/4/09)

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Ring of Death
 2008  3.0 stars 88 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 03/May/09
This well worn plot will probably be redone forever. I knew that going into it so I wasn't expecting originality and if course there was none. All of the acting was decent. Stacy Keach made a great over the top sociopathic warden and Johnny Messner made a likable lead. The fight scenes were very bloody so some viewers may be turned off by that. The choreography is not too technical, mostly street style brawling. It's okay. Recommended only if you like the genre. For me it was entertaining, worth watching once. (5/4/09)

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Hotel for Dogs
 2009  3.7 stars 100 mins Comedy   Rated: PG

Reviewed on 03/May/09
Great family entertainment! No CGI or talking dogs. Just good old fashioned moviemaking magic with top notch dog training and elaborate sets with ingenious props. I'm not a huge fan of kids movies but I really liked this one a lot. Recommended for everyone, especially dog lovers. (5/4/05)

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The Night Buffalo
 2006  2.7 stars 90 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: R

Reviewed on 01/May/09
The synopsis is off on this. It gives the impression this movie has a plot. But there is no plot to speak of. What it does have is full frontal nudity, both male and female, more than once. There is nothing wrong with that but it helps if it's consequential to the story. However the rest of the movie just seems to revolve around the nude scenes. Add a decent plot and good acting to tie it all together and you have the makings of a worthwhile erotic thriller. But the acting is so so, the characters are shallow and it borders on boring. Some halfway decent drama and the pretty actresses made it mildly entertaining, but there wasn't enough substance or style to actually recommend it. Watch at your own risk. (5/2/09)

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Sex and Lies in Sin City
 2008  2.7 stars 95 mins Thrillers   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 30/Apr/09
Hardly worth reviewing but I'll give it a shot. I expected more from Matthew Modine. His acting was over the top and his character was obnoxious and unrealistic. Speaking of unrealistic, Mena Suvari plays a stripper in a strip club where the dancers don't remove any clothing, and the patrons love it. Gimme a break. It's hard to believe that such a stupid plot is based on a true events but that's the story. This a Lifetime movie. I know they are not all this bad. I almost enjoyed this but not quite. 2.5* rounded down. (5/1/09)

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Oro, Plata, Mata
 1982  3.2 stars 194 mins Foreign (Tagalog)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 27/Apr/09
This was quite an experience. I have mixed feeling about it. In the first place it was way too long. It was like three separate movies. The first part was a soap opera. The second part had some good action and drama. Lastly it got intensely violent with a Rambo style over the top climax. Guess which parts I liked best. Of course it wasn't the first part. It was pretty boring for awhile. About 50 minutes in I was ready to turn it off but I told myself to give it another 10 minutes. At 1 hour I was willing to give it another 15. And that's when the action started. After that I enjoyed all of it till the end. It took that long (for me) to care about the characters, and as the violence and sexploitation ratcheted up so did my interest and enjoyment. What started out iffy turned out to be entertaining and worthwhile. The sound quality of the transfer left a lot to be desired and the picture was not widescreen. Also the picture quality wasn't so good. I recommend this only for those who have the patience to sit though the slow start. I haven't seen many movies from the Philippines but my favorite so far is Silip: Daughters of Eve. Of course it's a different genre. That one is pure Sexploitation. It's a good one though if you are into that sort of thing. This one has a sprinkling of it. Overall this is good but with issues. Feel free to take a chance. I did and I don't regret it. (4/28/09)

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Satan
 2007  3.0 stars 95 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 26/Apr/09
This is supposed to be inspired by true events, which I believe, but the two side stories that go along with it have got to be pure fiction. Still it's a good thriller/ drama. It's got nothing to do with Satan except that it's about bad people or good people who do bad things. A subplot is about a priest so I guess that's where the religious element comes into play. You can draw your own conclusions. I enjoyed watching this once but for me personally there was really nothing that grabbed me. It's good for a Colombian flick but it's no Rosario Tijeras (that movie was awesome in my opinion). Anyway this is a good bet for fans of good drama and Latin America Cinema. 3.5* rounded down. (4/27/09)

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Sleep Dealer
 2008  3.1 stars 90 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: PG-13

Reviewed on 21/Apr/09
This is a very worthwhile science fiction flick from Mexico. Great story and good acting, but low budget. The CGI and other effects are not mainstream Hollywood style but help to tell the story rather than being awesome for their own sake. Very entertaining and enjoyable with a message that resonates of Big Brother and imperialism. It's all very relevant. I thought Leonor Varela did a great job and Luis Fernando Pena was good too in his lead role. He is also in Sin Nombre where he plays a leader of a gang in southern Mexico. I gave that film 5* and also reviewed it. This movie is worth watching for fans of science fiction and Latin American Cinema. It has some cheesy parts but that's okay because it's mostly about the message. Don't go into it expecting the highest production values, but I think they did an excellent job for a limited budget. The theater where I saw it was not crowded but I'd say about half of the moviegoers applauded when it ended, and that says a lot. Recommended. (4/22/09)

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North Star
 1996  2.6 stars 89 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R

Reviewed on 16/Apr/09
This is a pretty good western/ arctic adventure. Christopher Lambert does a good job so fans of his might be pleased. James Caan and Burt Young are convincing bad guys. Catherine McCormick was pretty good too but her character is kind of out of place. The native actors seemed underused and the scenery didn't look right for Nome, Alaska. Maybe that's because it was filmed in Norway. More a comment than a complaint. Really the only thing wrong with this flick is there is nothing to make it memorable. Maybe it's above average. I know that's not much of an endorsement but I'm sure some viewers will enjoy it. It's basically a decent popcorn flick. (4/17/09)

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Sin Nombre
 2009  3.9 stars 96 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: R  until 16-Dec-2012

Reviewed on 16/Apr/09
Excellent dark and brooding drama out of Mexico with some action and a little romance. It's sort of two stories in one, neither of which is complex. One involves underprivileged immigrants and the other is a view into the life of some gang members. While nothing really out of the ordinary or unexpected happens the cinematography, acting and overall realism of this film really had a profound effect on my psyche. The characters are extremely human and believable. The film has no agenda and it's not preachy. It doesn't make excuses or pull punches. It's produced by Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal (Y Tu Mama Tambien) and the director Cary Fukunaga was right on target with this, his first feature film. Kudos! I'm looking forward to seeing more from him. I thought the previews of this looked good so I traveled 30 miles to see it, because apparently it's not mainstream enough for my local theaters. It exceeded my expectations. I highly recommended it for all fans of Latin American Cinema and great drama. (4/17/09)

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Swamp Devil
 2008  2.7 stars 90 mins Horror   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 12/Apr/09
This was pretty good for the genre it's in which is B made for TV science fiction/ horror. It's Canadian and I'm not sure if it was made for the Sci-fi channel but it is definitely that style. The acting was decent. Bruce Dern was great of course, and the lovely Cindy Sampson was good in her leading role as Bruce Dern's character's daughter. This movie is not great but better than many if not most in the same class. It's comparable to the Bone Eater although I think I liked the cheesy monster in that one better. The CGI is not so good in either. The "Swamp Devil" monster is kind of a "Swamp Thing" or rather like a big walking tree. But of course there is no comparison to the great 80's camp classic sci-fi flick. I only recommend this for those who already like this type of cheesy TV movie. I found it entertaining but then I'm not usually too critical when I know what I'm getting into and I had my suspicions about this one. (4/13/09)

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Shuttle
 2008  3.1 stars 106 mins Thrillers   Rated: R  until 30-Jul-2012

Reviewed on 10/Apr/09
The acting was not bad in this. With some decent writing it could have been alright. But the ridiculous plot holes and stupid actions of the characters got old after awhile and I couldn't keep letting it pass. Even the gorgeous lead actress was not enough to make it worthwhile. I took a chance on this one and it didn't pay off. Oh well, win some lose some. No big deal. 2.5* stars. (4/11/09)

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Vinyan
 2008  2.3 stars 96 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 08/Apr/09
Awesome visuals and intense drama highlight this excellent thriller. It caught my interest from the beginning and just kept getting better. I love movies that are set in the jungle, even when the beautiful scenery turns to dark dank fetid hell oozing pain and fear. What started out as a noble venture gradually went downhill mentally and morally as obsession and delusion ruled the consciousness of our characters. Brutally violent and shockingly vile, this is great stuff. Perfectly nihilistic, dirty and creepy and it borders on horror. If you are looking for a feel good flick look elsewhere. Some sensitive viewers may even find some parts morally objectionable or obscene. But hey, it's entertainment. If you want intense action and edgy drama in a setting and style reminiscent of Apocalypse Now, you can bet on this one. For me it was a rare treat and I highly recommend it. (4/9/09)

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Wild Dogs
 2007  2.3 stars 98 mins Drama   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 04/Apr/09
This is a decent violent drama from israel worth watching once but for me it was not exceptional. It kept my interest throughout but It's hard to know who would like it. It has a couple brutal rape scenes so it's definitely not for kids or sensitive viewers. Not too graphic by American standards and only borderline exploitative. 3.5* for me but I didn't like it enough to round up. Recommended only for fans of foreign drama. There is no English dubbing. It's in Hebrew with English subtitles. Read the synopsis and other reviews to help decide if it's right for you. (4/5/09)

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Angry Joe Bass
 1976  1.7 stars 82 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 02/Apr/09
Although I didn't really like this, I didn't dislike it, at least not enough to give it only 2*. It's very low budget and amateurish, but it's so terrible it's amusing and it kept my attention enough to not be sorry I rented it. The "so bad it's good" factor will be hit or miss for B movie fans. It's not campy or intentionally bad, just poorly made, but I give it a B+ for effort. Anyway I'm rounding 2.5* up to 3* because I kind of liked it... sort of. I can't recommend this to anyone except for my friend Trowerboy or anyone else who likes movies that stink. You might want to give it a try but consider yourself warned. (4/3/09)

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12 Rounds
 2009  3.5 stars 108 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: UR

Reviewed on 29/Mar/09
Now I can take an implausible plot even to the point of stupidity. And I can take some bad acting. I can forgive a lot and cut a lot of slack. Sure, I can give it a break. After all it's an action flick. But an hour and 48 minutes of nonstop shaky cam is enough to really get on my nerves. I just can't take it anymore. I tried to not mind it but it was too too much. Why why why must filmmakers insist on following this idiotic trend? Come on people give it a rest. If not for the constant shaky cam I would have given it 4*. Because of that I didn't like it. At least in Cloverfield it made sense because one of the characters was carrying the camera. Action used to be one of my favorite genres but the camera work lately is getting ridiculous. When will this fad end? Unfortunately I'm sure it won't be soon enough. Does anyone agree with me? (3/30/09)

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Swing Vote
 2008  3.3 stars 119 mins Comedy   Rated: PG-13  until 07-Jul-2010

Reviewed on 29/Mar/09
Kevin Costner plays a somewhat likable falling down drunk and ignorant slacker better than just about any other role I have seen him in. Madeline Carroll plays his daughter who is the caring and protective "adult role model" to her irresponsible and immature dad. She loves him and sticks up for him. She is a great little up and coming actress that I expect to see a lot of in the future. The politicians are shown as dumb pandering fools who are manipulated by their sleazy campaign managers. But it's all done in fun. If you take any of it too seriously it won't help, after all it's a comedy. I think the climactic speech has thinly veiled references to an actual candidate. The stunning Paula Patton is awesome, and her acting was decent too. I can't get enough of her. So anyway if you like comedy (family friendly and not crude) get this for a fun time. I recommend it. (3/30/09)

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Posse
 1993  3.2 stars 113 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R

Reviewed on 29/Mar/09
While this is by no means a cinematic masterpiece, I really enjoyed this Western a lot. The story is historically significant but with the usual Hollywood embellishments. Mario Van Peebles does and excellent job directing and acting in this. His dad Melvin Is here too. (Mostly) B movie actors Stephen Baldwin and Billy Zane are good in this, especially Baldwin who plays the only white member of the Jesse Lee gang and happy-go-lucky gambler. Billy Zane is the evil bad guy on a vendetta against Jesse who is a tortured soul haunted by the past. Of course the outlaws are the good guys, and the murders they commit are basically reverse vigilante justice. Veteran Blaxploitation actress Pam Grier unfortunately only has a bit part, but the gorgeous Salli Richardson really shines as Lana, Jesse Lee's love interest. She's the stunning half Indian daughter of Papa Joe (Melvin Van Peeble's character). The whole cast is great and there is lots of action. Of course the shootouts are over the top but fun. Don't be too critical of the technical aspects. For a twist on mainstream Westerns and a glimpse into a forgotten past, I highly recommend this. (3/30/09)

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Tank
 1984  3.4 stars 113 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: PG  starting 01-Nov-2010

Reviewed on 29/Mar/09
Exceptional 80's popcorn flick. Cool military guy vs. evil corrupt sheriff in Georgia. The story is not too complex. The highlights are you get to see stuff blown up by a tank, and of course the good guys get back at the bad guys. There is also a hot 20 year old hooker that joins the father son team manning the tank, thrown in for good measure. Not brilliant but lots of fun and it is a quality feature action film, not a B movie. Recommended. (3/30/09)

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Babylon A.D.
 2008  3.1 stars 101 mins Sci-Fi & Fantasy   Rated: UR

Reviewed on 24/Mar/09
Yet another Sci-fi flick that throws religion into the mix, and a shaky cam for the action sequences. Don't they realize that it's getting old? What I wouldn't give for some originality. Okay, now that I have vented, I want to say I really enjoyed this fast action, entertaining, ridiculous, leave your brain at the door, popcorn flick. I'm sure it helped that my expectations were very low, because of what I had heard about it. I really liked the three lead actors. Michele Yeoh is always good. I was pleased with Melanie Thierry. She is good and quite beautiful. Vin Diesel is never great but I thought he was plenty cool in this, cheesy one liners and all. These three likable characters took on all the bad guys (the rest of the world) in an impossible fight for survival with guns blazing, fists flailing and shaky cam shaking. I recommend it but only if you can click off the logical part of your brain and give it a break. (3/25/09)

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Lost Souls
 1980  2.4 stars 94 mins Foreign (Cantonese)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 21/Mar/09
This is some sick Chinese sexploitation. Very graphic violence including torture, multiple rape scenes, and nudity throughout. One positive feature is the excellent English dubbing which I recommend over the original language option with subtitles. Some fights between rival gangs of human traffickers and other action sequences assure the viewer won't be bored (appalled, shocked and disgusted maybe). If you are not interested at this point don't even consider renting this movie. Leave it to those who can appreciate some bad depravity and uncompromising cruelty. Not for children, and serious or sensitive viewers may find it morally objectionable. This is for exploitation fans only. (3/22/09)

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Running Hot
 1984  2.5 stars 95 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 21/Mar/09
This a decent B movie from the 80's complete with bad acting and cheesy music. Originally named "Lucky 13" which is also the female lead character's nickname (I have no idea why they changed the movie name to Running Hot) This is entertaining but I can't say I would recommend it to mainstream viewers. Good if you like B movies. I liked it about 3.5* worth. Watch at your own risk. (3/22/09)

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Africa Addio: Directors' Cut
 1966  3.0 stars 139 mins Foreign (Italian)   Rated: UR

Reviewed on 21/Mar/09
There was not a dull moment in this shocking documentary. I got the impression from the narrator at the start of the film that the filmmakers thought the scenes they were filming would soon be a thing of the past as Africa moved into the modern age. But here we are half a century later and about the only thing that has changed is the human population has increased and the wildlife has diminished. Of course the last part is expected. There are scenes of unimaginable mass killings, both human and animal. The social and political unrest, ethnic strife and genocide are going on strong today. The taking over of white owned farms by mobs and militias with no farming skills, that happened recently in Zimbabwe and helped lead to the deplorable conditions in that country today, is a repeat of what happened over 50 years ago in Kenya (after the Mau Mau rebellion against the injustices of the colonists). In the Congo they are still warring today but without the multinational mercenary army shown in this doc. It's an excellent view of soldiers of fortune I have not seen in any modern documentaries. In Zanzibar thousands were massacred in systematic ethnic cleansing, similar to what happened in Rwanda and what is still going on in Darfur, Sudan. While this film may seem exploitative in is graphic details of cruelty, I think it serves a purpose in educating the public on the horrors of reality in war torn regions of the world. That is something that unfortunately is lacking in modern journalism, perhaps out of fear and a desire to be politically correct. I'm thankful for this view into the past that so closely mirrors the present. It's a story that needs to be told. My only complaint is that the subtitles move way too fast to read them all. Some only remain for a second. I didn't rewind much. You can still get the story. If it wasn't for that one flaw I would easily give it 5*. Recommended but not for children or sensitive viewers. (3/22/09)

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Medellin, Sumas y Restas
 2005  2.8 stars 100 mins Foreign   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 16/Mar/09
This is a serious drama from Colombia that was better than I expected. Dirty dark and gritty, it will keep you on the edge of your seat providing you can get into it. There is not a lot of action and the violence it not very graphic. It's more thriller than action. The non-stop profanity is not translated into the English subtitles, which is probably a good thing, but you don't have to be fluent to understand some of the curse words that are repeated excessively. The story does seem to be very realistic and not exaggerated at all. If anything it may be disappointing for those looking for more action. This reminded me some of a movie from Venezuela called Secuestro Express. That was even more intense and had a kind of horror feel to it. I recommend it if you like this. But my favorite Colombian movie is Rosario Tijeras. That one has romance, violence, action, and a drop dead gorgeous femme fatal. I recommend it without reservation. Medellin, Sumas, y Restas is a different story. I recommend it only for those who are into Latin American Cinema or foreign thrillers, or for those who want to take a look at the Colombian drug trade in the 80's. And this one is not about Pablo Escobar. (3/17/09)

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Nobel Son
 2007  3.0 stars 111 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 13/Mar/09
This started out pretty good but half way through it started getting farfetched and convoluted. It's a quirky Indie thriller that may be well liked by those who can buy into the unlikely story or don't care about the plot. For me it started slow then developed nicely only to eventually peter out. I still liked it but not as much as I thought I would. The acting was decent. I won't say avoid it but I can't really recommend it either. (3/13/09)

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Cadillac Records
 2008  3.6 stars 109 mins Drama   Rated: R  until 04-Aug-2010

Reviewed on 11/Mar/09
For me this was all about the music. That's the part I enjoyed and that's why I'm giving it 4*. Some of the drama got a little irritating and a lot of the history just failed. Where was Leonard Chess' brother Phil, and his son? Muddy Waters' first trip to England was in 1958 about 10 years before what was shown here. Also I don't believe Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf really disliked each other. I'm sure I've seen them on stage together in one or more documentaries. Of course musical biographies do have a tendency to be fictitious. A lot of details were off in The Doors, and in Ray, and others. So if you're looking for a documentary there are many good ones out there, but if you want to see a fun movie where all of the actors play their own instruments and do their own singing, then this is it. They all give a little of there own style to the music but in my humble opinion that is better than lip syncing. Oh, and I'd like to mention that I bet all of the characters were more likable in real life (except for maybe Etta James) Good but not great acting all around. I thought Beyonce was remarkable, and Mos Def was good as Chuck Berry. (3/12/09)

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Chocolate
 2008  3.7 stars 92 mins Foreign (Thai)   Rated: R  until 30-Jul-2012

Reviewed on 10/Mar/09
From the director of Ong Bak: the Thai Warrior and The Protector comes another awesome martial arts gem, this time starring an adolescent actress playing a diminutive heroine with grace and style. Superbly executed fight scenes free of wire fu, shaky cam, and CGI should be fun to watch for anyone, even for those who are not martial arts fans. I started watching the English dubbed version but then switched to the Thai dialogue with English subtitles. That worked much better for me, but viewers who don't like subtitles will be glad for the option. I'm surprised I had never heard of this before. Now that the word it out you had better queue it quick or risk a long wait. I can't recommend it enough. (3/11/09)

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Stiletto
 2008  2.8 stars 99 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R

Reviewed on 08/Mar/09
Not quite as good as I expected or hoped for. The decent cast was wasted especially D.B. Sweeny who only had a cameo as a torture victim. I feel like I maybe could have enjoyed this if I was in the right mood, as it was borderline "so bad it's good" but it didn't happen. To it's credit it has a lot of action and violence, which I like, but that in itself was not enough to save it for me. It might be good for some fans of B action movies, so if you think you might like it read the other reviews and the synopsis and you should know if you want to chance it. (3/9/09)

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Cyclops
 2008  2.2 stars 88 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 08/Mar/09
The cyclops is the star of this low budget fantasy so if you can't get past the cheesy CGI it will be doomed. But if you can cut the monster some slack and don't mind sub-par acting and cheesy sets, and if you think it's funny to see a ridiculous looking cyclops rip off the heads and limbs of his victims, it just might work for you. Sorry, that's the closest I can come to a recommendation. I found it mildly entertaining. (3/9/09)

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When Time Ran Out...
 1980  2.8 stars 109 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: PG

Reviewed on 08/Mar/09
With such a great cast I expected better. William Holden seemed like the only actor who took his role seriously, which made him seem out of place. James Franciscus overacted and Paul Newman didn't act at all. Most of the cast looked liked they were thinking "what am I doing here?" Plot holes abound but by far the worst thing about this flick is the cheesy FX. It was all just bad enough to keep me shaking my head and rolling my eyes and laughing at how bad it was. I was entertained enough to round up a 2.5* rating. Watch at your own risk. (3/9/09)

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In the Electric Mist
 2008  3.3 stars 102 mins Thrillers   Rated: R  until 04-Jun-2010

Reviewed on 04/Mar/09
This is a lot like most of Tommy Lee Jones' other recent movies. Not a lot of action, but good drama and suspense, and top notch acting. As a fan I'm rarely disappointed and that is the case here as I found this to be enthralling and entertaining. The cinematography and soundtrack are excellent. Zydeco and cajun style blues throughout the movie help make it an enjoyable experience. The story is not great but stays interesting. I love jungles and swamps in movies and the backdrop of the cypress swamps and bayous in this movie is an added bonus for me. While not the greatest T.L.J. flick, if you're a fan of his I'm sure you'll want to see it. Some people who are looking for excellent writing and lots of action might might not be satisfied, but for me it was good, and I recommend it. (3/5/09)

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Bhopal Express
 1999  3.0 stars 95 mins Foreign (Hindi)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 03/Mar/09
This is worthy of a recommendation not because it's a great movie, but because of the interesting and important historical event it tells the story of. More entertaining than a documentary but the story is real and accurate (according to my limited research) The acting is a little over the top but the main characters are likable and the female lead is exceptionally beautiful. The production values are not the best but I found the film to be well worth watching at least once. This is a 3.5* for me but I can't say I really liked it a lot so I'm rounding down. For those who remember the news of this manmade disaster that happened in 1984 this is a good chance to learn more about it. And for those too young to remember you can learn the story of what has been called the worst industrial accident ever. If you have no interest in the subject or don't like reading subtitles you might want to pass, but for me it was well worth it. (3/4/09)

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Terrorist
 1985  1.7 stars 67 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 01/Mar/09
This movie was made in South West Africa in 1976. S.W. Africa is modern day Namibia. It's supposed to be based on a true story but that doesn't really help it any. It has made for TV quality (or lack of it) washed out color, bad sound, cheesy music and mediocre acting at best. On the up side it has a fair amount of action, and if you like desolate desert landscape, it does have some good Namibian desert scenery. Another good feature is it's only 67 minutes long, which normally would be too short for a movie but in this case it works because after an hour I was definitely ready for it to end. I would rate this 2.5* because I didn't dislike it that much, but I won't round up because I would hate to give it anything that remotely resembles a recommendation. (3/2/09)

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What Just Happened?
 2008  2.4 stars 104 mins Comedy   Rated: R  until 10-Mar-2012

Reviewed on 01/Mar/09
Mildly amusing at times, borderline interesting, okay at best. It's about a psychotic director, a heartless studio boss,and a spineless agent, and Bruce Willis as a spoiled rotten totally unlikable version of himself. Robert De Niro is the producer who is the only calm and sane person (and only likable character) and the voice of reason that holds it all together. If you like the concept, watch Entourage. They do a better job of showing the inner workings of Hollywood in an entertaining and amusing way. I didn't really dislike it so I'll round up my 2.5* opinion of it to 3*, since I didn't really mind watching it once. As far a recommending it, I can't do that, but I am sure some fans of the actors will like it. (3/2/09)

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The Other End of the Line
 2008  3.4 stars 106 mins Romance   Rated: PG-13

Reviewed on 28/Feb/09
As a neophyte Bollywood fan I may have been attracted to this by a chance to get to know another stunning Indian actress. And what a find! Shriya Saran is exquisite and a good actor too. Actually for me that's the best thing about Bollywood, not the song and dance routines. They are sometimes good or tolerable, but not my favorite quality of the genre. This flick doesn't have any of that, and it turns out it's an American style Romantic Comedy but with an international flair. It's a predictable chick flick that's typical in every way except for the Indian twist. I enjoyed it and even without Shriya I would have given it 3* but she was such a pleasure to watch with her 5* beauty and the sparklingly charming personality of her character that she portrays so well, this is a solid 4* overall for me. If you like fun light easy going chick flicks and/ or Indian culture, then I recommend this. Otherwise who knows? It won't be for everyone. (3/1/09)

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Truck Turner
 1974  3.3 stars 91 mins Classics   Rated: R

Reviewed on 24/Feb/09
This is must see classic Blaxploitation. It was in my queue for years and I'm so glad I finally watched it. If I had known it was this good I would have seen it a long time ago. Isaac Hayes is Mac Truck Turner the baddest bounty hunter in town who ends up in a fight with all the baddest pimps around. Great cars, music, women, and over the top acting. Also comic relief throughout. Some parts are downright hilarious. The only thing you might say is missing is Pam Grier, but not really. In her place we have Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura from Star Trek). She play a totally bad madam who is out for revenge for the death her pimp boyfriend. This flick has a lot of action and surprisingly good stunt work in the fight scenes, car chases, and shootouts. I highly recommend this fun flick to everyone except those that don't like the genre. If you not familiar with Blaxploitation but think you might like it, this would be a good choice to start with. They didn't make them much better than this. (2/25/09)

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Conejo En La Luna
 2006  3.5 stars 113 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 21/Feb/09
This is a suspenseful Mexican thriller, that is disturbing in it's realism. It focuses on government corruption. Although the subject is nothing new, this film excels in originality and excellent acting and directing that keeps the story interesting from start to end. It's Spanish language but the English subtitles are very well done. This is a good choice for fans of Mexican cinema and all fans of good drama and thrillers as well. I highly recommend it. (2/22/09)

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Terminal Invasion
 2002  3.0 stars 84 mins Sci-Fi & Fantasy   Rated: R

Reviewed on 18/Feb/09
Pretty good B Sci-fi/ horror flick. Best for Bruce Campbell fans, but not as good as My Name is Bruce which I saw recently. That was a tongue in cheek comedy that was better than this and funnier. This one is a little too serious and Bruce plays a strong silent type, rather than the sarcastic wise cracking jerk we have come to know and love. That character is alive and well in My name is Bruce. So I really recommend that one, but this one is okay too, but mainly for fans of the actor and genre. If you are not familiar with B.C. don't start with this one. (2/19/09)

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The International
 2009  3.2 stars 118 mins Thrillers   Rated: R  until 18-Oct-2010

Reviewed on 15/Feb/09
This is a good thriller with decent acting and lots of suspenseful moments and eventually some good action. Plot twists are predictable and many scenes are unbelievable but not more than other similar movies. As a thriller it lacks mystery, and as an action flick it lacks, well... action. However it kept my attention throughout and builds to a very effective shootout. In other words there is not a lot of action but when it does deliver it is exciting, violent, and satisfying. So don't expect uniqueness or greatness but overall I consider this good enough to recommend. (2/16/09)

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Miracle at St. Anna
 2008  3.5 stars 166 mins Drama   Rated: R  until 26-Jul-2010

Reviewed on 15/Feb/09
This movie was over 2 1/2 hours but it kept my interest throughout. I had passed on seeing this at the theater because it was so long but now I see I would have been fine with it. It really didn't feel too long at all. For me there were no slow parts. Most of the characters were well developed, and the story, while somewhat convoluted, was very interesting. This is the best WWII war movie I've seen recently. In my opinion it's much better than both Valkyrie and Defiance. I wasn't crazy about those two so if you really liked them you might not agree with me on this. Or maybe you will like this one even more. Warning: there are some very graphic and bloody dismemberments in some of the battle scenes that might be disturbing for sensitive viewers, and the whole film in general is not a good choice for children. Other than that it is one that I would definitely recommend. I really enjoyed it. (2/16/09)

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Humboldt County
 2008  3.3 stars 98 mins Comedy   Rated: R  until 13-Feb-2012

Reviewed on 14/Feb/09
If you're looking for a good movie about pot growers watch "Homegrown". The only character less likable than the pretentious idiotic wannabe "hippies" in this movie was the lifeless lead played by Jeremy Strong. Only a really bad actor guided by some really bad direction could be so dull and stupid. There was only one likable character and that was the young girl Charity. There was some good acting by Brad Dourif and Frances Conroy, but unfortunately the characters they played were morons. The plot was ridiculous. Although the movie has no clear agenda, the growers are portrayed as less than human brain dead dropouts. Even the illegal act itself is shown as being some sort of nuanced enigma. What pot grower would grow only 20 plants? Like barely getting by is somehow noble as opposed to trying to make a better life or at least a living. When one grower tries to cultivate enough to make some money apparently he is doomed because of his greed. Who would endure poverty and risk incarceration just to perpetuate a life of mere subsistence? There is a hypocritical preachiness that could get under your skin if this low budget flick was not too boring to be taken seriously. (2/15/09)

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World Sinks Except Japan
 2006  2.5 stars 98 mins Foreign (Japanese)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 14/Feb/09
This low budget spoof from Japan pokes fun at Americans, Chinese, and Koreans mostly, but mainly anyone not Japanese. It's funny seeing and hearing "Americans" speaking Japanese, and when they speak English it's with Eastern European accents. This movie has some funny parts but it's not great. It will be best for fans of Japanese cinema, especially if you like some of the low budget films from there. Read the synopsis and other reviews to help you decide if it's right for you. I enjoyed it, but I'm having trouble recommending it. (2/15/09)

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My Name Is Bruce
 2006  3.1 stars 84 mins Comedy   Rated: R  until 27-Apr-2010

Reviewed on 11/Feb/09
This is a good Bruce Campbell flick. In this one he plays himself. If you are not familiar with him you might want to see the Evil Dead series first or better yet just watch Army of Darkness which is still my favorite. Another good one is the Man With the Screaming Brain. It's about on par with this one or maybe a little better. I recommend this for bruce Campbell fans, otherwise who knows? (2/12/09)

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Au Hasard Balthazar
 1966  3.7 stars 95 mins Foreign (French)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 08/Feb/09
This is an artsy B & W French film critically acclaimed and praised for it's spirituality. Well, I am more of a movie lover than a movie critic, and I may not be sophisticated or spiritual enough to see it. While I can't deny that it is a very well made film, rather than spirituality what I found was an hour and a half of cruelty (both animal and human), despair, nihilism, and a world where a smile does not exist and the only love is that of a girl for her pet donkey. Those two were the only likable characters and we get to see them slowly destroyed throughout the film. Don't get me wrong, I did like it, just not a lot. Enough for 3* and worth watching once. I would recommend it for anyone who likes extremely sad depressing foreign art house films. Also for those insightful viewers who think they can get something spiritual out of it. It's there, according to professional critics and many reviewers. All I can say is good luck with that. (2/9/09)

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The Wrestler
 2008  3.6 stars 105 mins Drama   Rated: R

Reviewed on 01/Feb/09
This is a blend of serious drama and exploitation. Great direction and superb acting make it a pleasure to watch. Marisa Tomei is so lovable and awesome in this, and Mickey Rourke is both believable and likable. I'm pleasantly surprised by the Oscar nominations, and they both get my vote. This is great drama. There is some good action too but you really have to like drama. My wife did not appreciate it like I did and walked out during one particularly bloody scene, went down the hall, and watched Hotel for Dogs. So while I loved this film I know it is not for everyone. To each his own. It is pretty raw and brutal, kind of dark, and has a far amount of nudity. It held my attention and my admiration throughout. Highly recommended for drama fans. (2/2/09)

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Road Killers
 1994  2.6 stars 90 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R

Reviewed on 31/Jan/09
If you are looking for a great movie then pass on this, but if you like low budget thrillers you might find it worth watching. Craig Sheffer plays a psychopathic bully while David Arquette and Josh Brolin both play his mentally challenged buddies. None of the acting is very good and especially Christopher Lambert who is not known for his acting skills is even worse than usual in this. Christopher McDonald does a little better but his character is such a jerk you wonder how he survived as long as he did. Anyway I thought it was kind of fun and I can't say I didn't like it. On the other hand I can't really recommend it either. Try it if you are not too critical and you like the actors. (2/1/09)

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The Man Who Came Back
 2008  3.0 stars 112 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R

Reviewed on 31/Jan/09
This is not your typical Western and it is not a feel good flick. It is very violent and exploitative, and it has a heavy dose of rape, murder and brutality in general, and revenge as the main redeeming quality. Armand Assante's character is pure evil as well as the one played by George Kennedy who by the way is getting really old but he's still a great actor. If you are looking for a historical movie you won't find it here. This movie is entertaining but not educational in the least. It's nihilistic, misogynistic, and racial. But as a fan of action movies I don't mind some gratuitous violence and depravity when it fits the overall feel of the movie. In this case you get some pretty good schlock. In fact I liked it a lot, but that's just me. Viewer discretion is advised. (2/1/09)

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Genghis Khan: To the Ends of the Earth
 2007  3.1 stars 136 mins Foreign (Japanese)   Rated: R

Reviewed on 27/Jan/09
This is a really good and entertaining epic movie. In this one Temudjin is portrayed as a more ruthless and traditional warrior as opposed to the other 2007 movie "Mongol" by Sergei Bodrov where he was shown to be sensitive and politically correct. It was good too, but I liked this one better. I usually prefer to watch movies in the language they are filmed in and read the subtitles, especially when the dubbing is cheesy. However my son asked me to give the English dubbing a try and we ended up watching the whole thing in English. It wasn't great but it did allow for a more relaxed viewing and it was a lot of fun. The voices and dialogue were good, just not in sync with the lip movements. I recommend the dubbed version for anyone who doesn't like subtitles. At least they give you a choice. I love the Mongolian countryside and it is really spectacular. The movie is by no means perfect, but I liked it a lot. Recommended. (1/28/09)

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Blue Sunshine
 1976  2.8 stars 90 mins Horror   Rated: R

Reviewed on 24/Jan/09
This does not seem like a movie to be to be taken seriously. As I watched it I was reminded of the Food of the Gods, and when I checked I found out it was made the same year. Of course it's not as bad or good as that cult classic, but it does have some things in common with it. It's stupid, funny, low budget, fun to watch, and generally entertaining unless you are looking for quality and if you are then you shouldn't rent this. Not required viewing for B Horror and "so bad it's good" flicks but fans of the genre might get a kick out of it, and I've seen worse. I can't recommend it for most people but I enjoyed it. It's okay. (1/25/09)

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The Children of Huang Shi
 2008  3.9 stars 125 mins Drama   Rated: R  until 14-Jun-2010

Reviewed on 23/Jan/09
This is an Australia - China - Germany co-production but it seems pretty much like a mainstream Hollywood production to me rather than a Chinese movie. I don't mean that as a good or bad thing, it's just that it may appeal to many viewers that normally don't like foreign films. Even the dialogue is mostly English, so subtitle haters will get a break at least half of the time. I found this to be an excellent movie, both entertaining and educational, with great acting and obviously high budget. It should be a good bet for most fans of good drama and it has beautiful cinematography. At a little over 2 hours it didn't seem too long, and it was never boring. I highly recommended it. (1/24/09)

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Okatsu the Fugitive
 1969  2.9 stars 84 mins Foreign (Japanese)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 23/Jan/09
This is the third and last (as far as I know) of the series. It's a little cheesier and more over the top but still lots of fun. The whole trilogy is highly entertaining and I would watch any of them again, no problem. You have to allow for plot holes or think of each movie as it's own story and not part of a trilogy. In this one Okatsu has a mother and father who both get tortured and murdered giving Okatsu the objects of her revenge. And vengeance is sweet indeed as she tears a bloody swathe though the countless ronin, yakusa, corrupt officials and double crossers. You have to like the genre and I admit it's not for everyone, but if it sounds interesting to you give it a try for a good time. (1/24/09)

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Quick Draw Okatsu
 1969  2.9 stars 89 mins Foreign (Japanese)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 18/Jan/09
This is the second installment of Legends of the Poisonous Seductress (where do they come up with these names?). The story is not as good as the first one in quality or artistic value but it is better for martial arts fans and it is more entertaining. Besides being in color it has much more swordplay and action in general. It's a typical comic book style revenge flick. Even though it is supposed to be a sequel, in the last movie Okatsu was an orphan and in this one she has a father. It's not clear if he adopted her but he conveniently runs a martial arts school so Okatsu is an expert with a sword now (go figure). Once again I think it's a stretch to call this "Pinku Eiga" genre. If interested in that see Sex & Fury or the Pinky Violence series. I recommend Girl boss Guerilla. Anyway this is a fun popcorn flick as long as you can eat and read subtitles at the same time. (1/19/09)

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Dust Devil: The Final Cut
 1992  3.0 stars 108 mins Horror   Rated: R

Reviewed on 13/Jan/09
As horror movies go this was not the greatest, but for me it scores points with it's strangeness, originality, great visuals, and the fact that is was filmed in Namibia. More plot holes than plot, but it does have some awesome images, and I actually found the two leads likable. A few intensely bloody scenes may seem mild to hard core gore hounds, but could be disturbing for more sensitive viewers. I recommend it for fans of B horror and unusual films in general. For me this flick was entertaining but I can't say I'm crazy about it. 3.5* (1/14/09)

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Female Demon Ohyaku
 1968  3.0 stars 90 mins Foreign (Japanese)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 12/Jan/09
Part 1 of Legends of the Poisonous Seductress trilogy. This is a great movie. Much better than I expected, it turned out to be a real hidden gem. The synopsis is not very accurate. I don't know if this should be considered in the Pinky Violence genre. There is really not much sex, and no frontal nudity. This is similar in style and quality to the Zatoichi series (like one of the better ones as far as the story goes) but with not as much swordplay. If you like Zatoichi you should like this. It's lots of fun, as long as you know what you are getting into. Recommended. (1/13/09)

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Delbaran
 2001  2.4 stars 96 mins Foreign   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 02/Jan/09
Hoping for a hidden gem, I decided to take a chance on this one. Sometimes I get lucky with these obscure titles. Not this time. What a dirt clod! It appears to have a budget of about $20.00 give or take a few bucks. I agree with the other reviewer. It has no plot and it's boring. See for yourself if you don't believe me. (1/3/09)

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Surfer, Dude
 2008  2.6 stars 85 mins Comedy   Rated: R  until 30-Oct-2010

Reviewed on 01/Jan/09
Apparently I am the first reviewer that doesn't either love or hate this movie. Out of ten reviews so far there are seven 1* and three 5* ratings. While I can understand the 5's, the 1's bewilder me. It's seems like anyone who likes the actors, sees the name of the movie and the cover art, and reads the synopsis, would not be expecting so much. On the other hand I can see how fans of the actors and and stoner/ slacker/ surfer comedies could love it. I wasn't that stoked, but I did find it entertaining. It has the laid back attitude you would expect, eye candy for both sexes (in my case it was the bikini clad girls and mild T & A) and a fun story that is admittedly slow at times but kind of funny most of the time. I respect the other reviewers opinions, but I hope I can provide some balance to it all by saying I didn't love or hate it, I just thought it was pretty good or at least alright. (1/02/09)

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Towelhead
 2007  3.1 stars 116 mins Drama   Rated: R

Reviewed on 31/Dec/08
A thirteen year old girl from a dysfunctional family discovers herself in this coming of age drama. Issues of racism and physical, emotional, and sexual abuse are explored in a very serious and non-exploitative way. This movie would be very dark if not for Summer Bishil. She is the nineteen year old (twenty now) actress that played thirteen year old Jasira Maroun. Her smile kept illuminating what could have been a depressing film and may be for some viewers. Aaron Eckhart plays a slime-ball and Toni Collette is the helpful neighbor. Maria Bello plays the mother you have got to hate. While this may have some disturbing parts for some viewers, I found it to be fulfilling and entertaining, but this is one you probably won't want your kids to see (unless of course they are adults). I highly recommend this film to all except those that might have a problem with the subject matter. (1/1/09)

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Sa-ro-ja
 2008  2.9 stars 153 mins Foreign (Tamil)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 29/Dec/08
This turned out to be better than I expected. I'm no Bollywood expert but I have seen a few, and while this is far from great, it is enjoyable. It's a comedy at first but then turns into a sort of action thriller. The main problem is it was about a half hour too long and the ending stretched on and on. It worked best as a comedy and it was looking like 4* for me until the attempt at action and suspense kind of took the gas out of an otherwise fun production. The action twist was fine, but the action part of the movie became repetitive. The typical song and dance routines were good. I'm not sure why I like them, when I don't like musicals in general. It must have something to do with the beautiful Indian girls and the way they move. I also really like the music, with its exotic rhythms and hypnotic melodies. So while I can't recommend this movie outright, I can honestly say I liked it, just not a lot. (12/30/08)

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Primeval: Seasons 1 & 2
 2008  3.8 stars 585 mins Television   Rated: R  until 20-Dec-2010

Reviewed on 28/Dec/08
The special effects are awesome in this British TV series. The dinosaurs and other creatures drive this show and if you expect critically impressive drama or believable story lines you may be disappointed. If there is anything cheesy about this it is the story. Convenient and mostly predictable plot twists made me roll my eyes a few times but it didn't really bother me. This is great entertainment for Science Fiction fans if you can enjoy without minding the unlikely nature of it. The acting is good enough and the characters are likable. I liked the first disc a lot and it got better until disc 4 which was the best with four great episodes. The last episode was the best of all when elements from all the others combined to make a really satisfying finale. Many of the mysteries that had developed throughout the series were answered and the producers went all out with the effects. What started out as 4* for me ended up as a solid 5* in other words I really loved this show. Highly recommended for Sci-Fi fans. (12/29/08)

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Los Angeles
 2007  1.8 stars 90 mins Thrillers   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 26/Dec/08
It's unclear to me what the director was trying to accomplish here, but I do give him credit for an attempt at originality. At times it started to catch my interest but unfortunately it never developed into much of anything. The story sort of half developed as it bounced back and forth between superficial characters and rambling dialogue which included some annoying voiceover. What appears to be an attempt at an art house film flounders in a limbo of unfulfilled ramblings and question marks. Too low budget to be called pretentious, I would give this as a 2.5* with the extra 1/2* for effort, but I can't round up to 3 because I would be lying if I said I liked it. (12/27/08)

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Sangre de Mi Sangre
 2007  3.3 stars 110 mins Thrillers   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 25/Dec/08
Outstanding Spanish language film, and a masterpiece of filmmaking. It has probably the best translated English subtitles I have ever seen but that is far from the best qualities of this film. This is an extremely realistic drama (and not overacted) about two young men who enter the U.S. illegally and go to New York in a semi trailer together. They are opposites, one is trusting and innocent and is victimized by the streetwise, cynical, desperate, and depraved individuals he encounters while he searches for the father he has never known. The other is a street hardened criminal whose sociopathic behavior hurts those he comes in contact with, but he comes off as a sort of victim of his environment. The good boy has had a hard life also, and I think we see an example of how different personalities react differently to adversity. I always rate movies subjectively and this is 4.5* for me. I'm rounding up because from an objective point of view it definitely deserves 5*. Great directing, acting, and storytelling make this an awesome film for even the most critical viewer. The exception is that those who need there movies to be heartwarming or "feel good" will be left cold by this one. This is a sad story, and it does require a tolerance for dark depressing drama. That and the fact that it is in Spanish (but with excellent English subtitles) are the only issues that may turn off some viewers. Otherwise I highly recommend it. Drama doesn't get much better than this. (12/26/08)

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Kiltro
 2006  2.5 stars 93 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 23/Dec/08
What a hidden gem this turned out to be! I really love this crazy martial arts flick from Chile. Now hold on, before everyone starts thinking it's the perfect movie I need to clarify some things. Some of the things I love about it will turn off some other viewers. There is lots of exploitative gratuitous violence which I suppose is to be expected. It has some very cheesy effects (especially the blood). Most of the acting is over the top. It has a spaghetti western soundtrack and overall feel to it. The visuals are awesome in my opinion including some beautiful scenery of the Chilean countryside. The story is a pretty ridiculous fantasy and pure cliche. I think it would help if you like some "so bad its good" type movies although it's really not that bad. The fight scenes are good but dont expect super polished Hong Kong style choreography. Are you starting to get the picture? The 5* rating I give it is subjective, because I really do love it, even though I know most viewers will not like it so much. This flick is a sort of poor mans Sukiyaki Western Django, although the plot is different and its lower budget. It reminded me of it. Its not as artsy but maybe you could call it cheese art... Did I mention that it's a heck of a lot of fun? I hope this helps you decide if it is right for you. (IW) (12/24/08)

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Third World Cop
 2000  3.3 stars 98 mins Drama   Rated: R

Reviewed on 21/Dec/08
Surprisingly good for a Jamaican movie. Better than I expected. Good acting, story, soundtrack and plenty of action. Of course the accents make it hard to understand the dialogue, but adequate subtitles take care of that. Dont expect great quality by Hollywood standards, but Im sure fans of Jamaican Cinema will find a hidden gem well worth watching. Recommended. (IW) (12/22/08)

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Skatalites: Live at Lokerse Feesten
 2008  2.3 stars 179 mins Music & Musicals   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 14/Dec/08
This is a good one for fans of Jamaican music, unfortunately the sound recording quality is not the greatest. However the music is excellent if you are forgiving of the sound quality. Concert 2 is better than one as far as the sound goes, and they perform a lot of the same songs. Mostly Ska with some Rock Steady and Reggae, it is all true to the origins of Jamaican Music. I mostly recommend this for fans, but for music lovers in general I think it is a chance worth taking. (12/15/08)

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The Day the Earth Stood Still
 2008  3.1 stars 104 mins Sci-Fi & Fantasy   Rated: PG-13

Reviewed on 14/Dec/08
The last time I saw the original was many years ago. That's okay because I usually don't compare remakes or sequels to the originals too much. There are many things I enjoy about movies but mostly for me it's entertainment and an escape from reality. Kind of like a recreational drug. Remember those? Ha ha just kidding, that turned out to be a myth. Seriously though, I have loved Science Fiction all my life, even the ones made in the 50's but I never considered many of them to be masterpieces except for maybe Them and War of the Worlds. So I don't understand the fuss about this not comparing to the original. I thought the robot looked too much like the old one and I would have preferred a more modernized version. But overall I had a good time watching this at the theater. The acting wasn't great, but I do think Keanu Reeves fits naturally into the role of an alien. The story was farfetched and full of plot holes, but there aren't many Sci-Fi flicks that are logical or believable. I expect them to be out there. I recommend this to fans of the actors and/ or the genre as long as your tastes are not too sophisticated. This one is for the masses. (12/15/08)

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Slumdog Millionaire
 2008  4.1 stars 120 mins Drama   Rated: R

Reviewed on 08/Dec/08
Where to begin? There is so much to say about this film but I am at a loss for words. How do I describe the way it made me feel? It's a drama, a romance, an adventure with action, a story of survival and social injustice. It will tug at your heartstrings and stimulate your mind. Shocking visuals of poverty and violence will assault your senses, but a story of enduring love and perseverance will counter the scenes of sorrow and depravation. Top notch directing and acting, excellent cinematography, and most of all great storytelling make this a cinematic experience not soon to be forgotten. Told in a series of flashbacks, we see the events that shaped the life of our protagonist and enabled him to answer the questions as they were presented to him. Good character development brings us close to the ones we feel for as well as the villains we loathe. This film is a masterpiece. A work of genius. To put it simply, it's awesome. Of course it will have it's detractors, and some viewers will undoubtedly find reasons not to like it. That will be their loss. I expect several Oscar nominations including Best Picture, and in my opinion it deserves it. To say I highly recommend this would be an understatement. (12/9/08)

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Naked Fear
 2007  2.9 stars 104 mins Horror   Rated: R  until 23-Oct-2010

Reviewed on 06/Dec/08
This is a good thriller with some violence and full female nudity that might be too much for more sensitive viewers, and of course it's not for children. I found it to be entertaining and better than I expected. It is similar in feel and quality to Red ridge (which I also liked) but with the added nudity, and one well known actor (Joe Mantegna). The acting is acceptable, the cinematography is good, and the story and characters are plausible. Better than your average B movie, but it is a basically a popcorn flick. That is if you don't mind the exploitative nature of it. For a mindless good time, I recommend it, but not for the easily offended. (12/7/08)

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Wisegal
 2008  3.4 stars 89 mins Drama   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 06/Dec/08
Typical made for TV movie. Unoriginal but entertaining, particularly if you like Alyssa Milano. Without her this wouldn't have been worthwhile, but I enjoyed it. The rest of the cast did a good job too. Of course it is nothing to write home about, just mediocre or slightly better than that. I liked the movie but I can't honestly recommend it unless you are a fan of Alyssa Milano. (12/7/08)

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Renegade
 2004  2.7 stars 124 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 01/Dec/08
Rent this if you think you can get into a Psychedelic Western. Great for stoners, armchair shamans, nostalgic hippies and fans of writer Carlos Casteneda. Apart from that it has some great visuals that will appeal to a broader viewer base. You don't have to be high or crazy to enjoy it but it probably helps. Beautiful special effects of peyote (and other psycho-tropic plants) induced hallucinations comprised mostly of kaleidoscopic snakes and centipede-like creatures make this a fascinating visual experience. There is not much of a plot to speak of, but the entire cast is very good and all of the acting is satisfying. Just don't expect it to be like anything you've ever seen before. I was actually expecting a more conventional Western but I was not disappointed, because I like odd or weird movies as long as they are not boring, as in this case. While some studio footage was done in England and France the stunning outdoor scenes where filmed in Mexico, in Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila, and Zacatecas. I don't believe the cultural aspects of the indigenous characters to be historically accurate, but rather rooted in a kind of pop-folk-stoner-urban mythology. I can't recommend this to everyone because I know a lot of viewers will not like it, and I don't pretend to be able to explain all the deeper meanings and esoteric messages of this film. I enjoyed it for the esthetics and the entertainment value. I give it 4* for originality and beauty. (12/2/08)

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Flowers for Algernon
 2000  3.3 stars 92 mins Drama   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 30/Nov/08
This is a decent made for TV movie. I read the book when I was a kid and I liked it. The movie is pretty much true to the book as I remember it. The story is sad but the execution of it is pretty easy going. There is nothing wrong with this film, but I wouldn't call it especially memorable. 3.5* (12/1/08)

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Australia
 2008  3.6 stars 165 mins Drama   Rated: PG-13

Reviewed on 30/Nov/08
Very enjoyable, fun and entertaining, but for me it fell short of being a masterpiece. It had some issues that bothered me a little. There is lots and lots of CGI in this film. It is pretty well done but very obvious. There were some huge plot holes and the outback scenery was only desert, while if I'm not mistaken Darwin is tropical. There is a kind of missing link between the desert and the city of Darwin. Maybe I'm nitpicking but I expected to see a wider variety of panoramic landscapes, and it didn't really need all the CGI. I can see how that might be necessary for the World War II ships and planes, and views of the city, but not for the natural scenery. Anyway it may sound like I didn't like this movie but I really did. I liked it a lot. Honest. I just didn't love it. Recommended if you like the actors or Australia or it's aborigine culture, which for me was the most interesting part of the story. (12/1/08)

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Transporter 3
 2008  3.5 stars 100 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: PG-13

Reviewed on 29/Nov/08
The original Transporter was such a great action flick, I really loved it. Of course you had to suspend your disbelief and give it a break, but it really only had one scene that I thought was actually stupid in it's impossibility. Still I gave it 5* for the great action and stunts. Transporter 2 was such a letdown for me. I don't want to spoil it for those that haven't seen it and want to, so I'll just say that the car defied the laws of gravity so much that for me it crossed the line of being ridiculously stupid to the point of irritation. I gave it 2*. Maybe I was too hard on it, but on the bright side I think it tempered my expectations for Transporter 3. Even though I was disappointed with 2, I still had to check it out, since I'm a diehard fan of Jason Statham and action flicks in general. As expected it wasn't nearly as good as the original and didn't have as much action as either, but it was enjoyable, and I wasn't sorry I went to see it. The fighting scenes were chopped to pieces (I hate that) kind of like in the Bourne Supremecy, so if you liked that you might not mind. The stunts were pretty cool and while they were impossible, they weren't so stupidly ridiculous as the ones in Transporter 2. So 3 is an improvement over 2 but I still don't think it was great. Anyway since I'm such a sucker for action flicks I'll probably go see Transporter 4 when it comes out too. Sort of recommended. May be worth taking a chance on. (11/30/08)

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Meet Dave
 2008  3.2 stars 90 mins Comedy   Rated: PG

Reviewed on 29/Nov/08
Good clean family fun. Eddie Murphy is hilarious. I hadn't heard anything about this and after Norbit I wasn't expecting much, but it was a pleasant surprise. Don't get me wrong it's not great, but it is definitely worth watching. 3.5* and I'm rounding up because 3* sounds mediocre and it's better than that. Recommended for comedy fans and Eddie Murphy fans. The rest of the cast was good too. Of course the whole thing is just silly, but if that doesn't bother you, there is really nothing here not to like. (11/30/08)

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Priceless
 2006  3.5 stars 102 mins Foreign (French)   Rated: R  until 18-Feb-2011

Reviewed on 25/Nov/08
Light hearted, pleasant and oh so sweet. It's a foreign chick flick, a French romantic comedy. If it wasn't for Audrey Tautou I probably wouldn't have rented it. But she is indeed "priceless" in my book. The last French romance I rented starred Monica Bellucci (The Apartment). The two of them are a couple of my favorite actresses. I have a hard time being bored with anything either of them star in. This film is not really a laugh out loud affair, more like a chuckle here and a giggle there, with lots of smiles throughout. It was lots of fun for me and I really enjoyed it. I hesitate to recommend it to everyone, but if you like French Cinema and don't mind subtitles (well done, easy to follow) you just might like it. And if you like Audrey Tautou half as much as I do, then no doubt about it, this one's for you! (11/26/08)

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Vice
 2008  2.4 stars 98 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 22/Nov/08
This is a pretty good B crime drama with lots of action. Dark and gritty, violent and crude, and if that sounds like fun, you should get into it. Michael Madsen is some kind of maniac as are the characters he usually plays. But I like the slime ball. Could this guy possibly be a good cop? More like a cop's nightmare. Daryl Hannah is more than believable and looks natural as a brunette. She impressed me in this flick. She and Madsen both give good performances. The whole movie is entertaining. I'm sure it won't win any awards but many viewers will enjoy it as I did. It's a solid 3.5* for me but not quite good enough to round up to 4*, in my opinion. Recommended for fans of the actors and of good B action flicks. (11/23/08)

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Up the Yangtze
 2007  3.5 stars 93 mins Documentary   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 20/Nov/08
More informative than entertaining, but then it is a documentary, and it is a pretty good one. I found it to be kind of slow and very sad. It is interesting though. It's about a very poor family whose home will be flooded upon completion of the Three Gorges Dam. There is not much about the construction of the dam or anything about other parts of the river. A young girl (I don't think her age was mentioned but I'm guessing 14?) is sent by her parents to work on a "cruise ship" so she can support them and her younger siblings. Worth watching at least once. Recommended for fans of documentaries who are interested in the subject matter. (11/21/08)

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Beer for My Horses
 2008  3.3 stars 86 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: PG-13  until 11-Dec-2011

Reviewed on 16/Nov/08
This is a great redneck comedy, similar to Witless Protection and Delta Farce, although it's not as over the top wacky and it has fewer fart jokes. And of course it doesn't have Larry the Cable Guy in it. But it is similar. I liked those movies a lot too. This movie is very funny and much better than I expected. Toby Keith surprised me. He is a decent actor and not just a Country Music singer in a movie. Ted Nugent was not so good and only said two words. To sum it up, I recommend this comedy if you are into redneck humor at all. Hopefully you will find it worthwhile as I did. (11/17/08)

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Quantum of Solace
 2008  3.7 stars 107 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: PG-13

Reviewed on 16/Nov/08
Since I'm not a James Bond purist, I wasn't much bothered by the lack of gadgets, witty quips and one liners, or the suave debonaire nuanced 007 of the past. After all nothing lasts forever and the only constant is change, but I'm sure the series will eventually come full circle and we will see a return to a more subtle Bond. If it doesn't you won't hear me crying because I am a huge action fan. This movie delivered what I like. Lots of violence, fighting, car chases and crashes, shootouts and lots of explosions. A hot female lead who gives all previous bond girls a run for their money. This is actually my favorite James Bond movie to date. I liked Casino Royale a lot but it was too long and had a slow part when Bond was convalescing and falling in love. Yuck! This film on the other hand leaves little chance for sentiment and melodrama but who cares? The action kicks butt! Highly recommended. (11/17/08)

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Shadow Company
 2007  3.3 stars 86 mins Documentary   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 16/Nov/08
This documentary takes a very interesting subject and makes it dull. It was good enough to say I liked it, but barely. Basically it's an hour and a half of de-romanticizing mercenaries. It tries to show them as glorified security guards. Wow that's exciting. There is a lot of emphasis placed on showing how ethical all of the private contractors that were interviewed are. What about those guys that took the jobs these guys turned down. I think they might be more interesting. This doc. was made up of stock footage and pre-arranged interviews done in the comfort of home or office. How about getting boots muddied in the field while investigating the subject? This doc. needed to be more gritty and less white-washed. What demographic are they targeting? Their customers? I didn't dislike it, but I can't really say I recommend it. (11/17/08)

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Confessions of a Pit Fighter
 2005  2.3 stars 100 mins Drama   Rated: R

Reviewed on 16/Nov/08
As a fan of fight flicks I can't say I didn't like this, but I do prefer to see better fighting skills better choreographed and even some half-way decent acting. There is a French film called Scorpion with the same "plot" that is better than this. If you are looking for a B fight movie see that one. Of course if you must see everything in the genre just because, then check this one out too. (11/17/08)

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War, Inc.
 2008  2.7 stars 106 mins Comedy   Rated: R

Reviewed on 15/Nov/08
A very fun satire with an anti-war message that targets private contractor corporations like Blackwater (i.e. mercenaries) and takes it to the next level for parody's sake. The movie also pokes fun at terrorists. All the lead actors did a great job including Hilary Duff (go figure). I loved the scene where they are filming a music video with her lip syncing a song called "I want to blow you up". For me she was a pleasant surprise. I always love Marisa Tomei. I think she is awesome in everything I've ever seen her in. Ben Kingsley is a blast, and handles the American southern drawl expertly well (no surprise there). I'm not a big John Cusack fan but he was good. Big sister Joan was better. All of the supporting cast were good too. I really have no complaints. It's funny and it's fun and I recommend it to all fans of political satire and/ or the cast. (11/16/08)

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Sukiyaki Western Django
 2007  2.9 stars 98 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R

Reviewed on 15/Nov/08
This is a visually stimulating and surreal, crazy, totally over the top, stylized film that many viewers will love, while others will most likely despise. I can't really say I understand what the director had in mind, so I will leave the existential quips and meanderings, and esoteric explanations of symbolic accoutrements to the experts. I'm in it for the entertainment value. And let me tell you I was definitely entertained. But then I am a fan of good (or sometimes so bad it's good) camp and exploitation. Maybe that's why this turned out to be right up my alley. No need for subtitles, the actors all speak English, mostly heavily accented but pronounced slowly and deliberately, which I think works well and contributes to the overall appeal. I rarely watch a rental DVD more than once but I watched this one twice and I'm planning on seeing it again before I send it back. As I said, this will probably not appeal to everyone and I'm not even sure why it floats my boat, but I hope I have helped you decide if you want to give it a try. At the very least it is unique. At best it's a bloody and raucous masterpiece of mayhem. (11/16/08)

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Milarepa: Magician, Murderer, Saint
 2006  3.5 stars 90 mins Foreign   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 14/Nov/08
This is a beautiful film about a legendary and historical Tibetan saint and poet. The director is a Bhutanese Buddhist Lama, who made this on a budget of 1.5 million. I googled him and found a YouTube video where he describes how they created an actual rock slide because they couldn't afford the special effects for the scene and almost killed a bunch of people. I was wondering about that when I saw it. It looked awful real. Now I see that's because it was. This movie was filmed entirely in India, at the Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh (I got that from the credits). This is a must see for anyone interested in Tibetan culture, Buddhism or if you just want to see something new and far from the mainstream. I really enjoyed the soundtrack too. The music was soothing while sad and haunting at the same time. Highly recommended. (11/15/08)

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OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies
 2006  3.2 stars 99 mins Foreign (French)   Rated: NR  until 15-Feb-2012

Reviewed on 10/Nov/08
A preview of this on another DVD I rented caught my eye so I decided to give it a try. It turned out to be a real kick in the pants. It's a spoof of secret agent flicks set in the 50's. I was chuckling or at least smiling throughout the whole movie. Never a dull moment. Better than expected for a French comedy. I recommend it for something different if you don't mind reading subtitles. (10/11/08)

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Rain of Fire
 1977  2.5 stars 102 mins Horror   Rated: R

Reviewed on 09/Nov/08
Just okay low budget horror that's not scary or suspenseful. It's mostly lacking in the writing. What a ridiculous corny story. I want to spoil it so bad, but I will refrain. Anyway I still enjoyed it, but you have to give it a break. Just chuckle and roll your eyes. I wouldn't call it so bad it's good. It's just not real bad (or real good). I can't say I recommend it, but if you feel the urge to take a chance, be my guest. (11/10/08)

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River Queen
 2005  3.0 stars 114 mins Drama   Rated: R

Reviewed on 08/Nov/08
This was recommended by my friend Bodhi Grrll. I think it came up when we were discussing Cliff Curtis who I like a lot. He is a great Maori actor and I'm a fan of his. More viewers will recognize his face than his name. More often than not he plays a bad guy, like a terrorist, gang banger, Colombian drug lord, or modern day pirate. He does play a Maori in Once Were Warriors, Whale Rider and also in this great film from New Zealand. Kiefer Sutherland is great in this too, and so is Samantha Morton. I consider this both Drama and Action/ Adventure, as well as Foreign. Beautiful scenery in an exotic locale adds to the pleasure. I bought this from Amazon a few months ago, based on my friend's recommendation and I wasn't disappointed. I am so glad it will be available here now (releases 11/25/08). Highly recommended for fans of the cast, or of films from New Zealand, 19th Century Period Pieces, or all of the above. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. (11/9/08)

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Elite Squad
 2007  3.7 stars 117 mins Foreign (Portuguese)   Rated: R

Reviewed on 08/Nov/08
Hard edged and uncompromising, heartless and brutal, angry and bloody, nihilistic and wicked to the core. It's about corrupt cops and drug dealers in the slums of Rio. Even City of God had more hope and humanity, and City of Men was like a Disney flick compared to this. Check out one of them before seeing this one if you are new to Brazilian Cinema. I think this could be a tough one to start with. I loved those two movies, but I liked this one a lot too. However it does have some negatives. The story is a little hard to follow at times, even though there isn't much of a plot. The handheld camera technique is a bit much at times. Don't watch the English language version unless you like cheesy out of sync dubbing. It's better to watch it in Portuguese with subtitles that are more than adequate. Most of the characters are not that likable, but all of the acting is top notch. There is plenty of action throughout the whole movie and the violence is intense and realistic. I recommend this to fans of the genre. If you are not familiar with it and would rather start with something milder see City of Men. If you just want to start with the best, then City of God is the ticket. If you've seen that and liked it then you should like this one too. (11/8/08)

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Transsiberian
 2008  3.3 stars 111 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 05/Nov/08
Emily Mortimer and Woody Harrelson were good in this, but I liked supporting actor Eduardo Noriega just as much and Kate Mara to a lesser degree. However Ben Kingsley steals the show as a dirty Russian cop. This is a suspenseful thriller. It's a fun movie that starts out slow, but once it gets going it progresses steadily to the end. It has a few interesting twists and turns. Not the greatest but I did enjoy it a lot. Recommended. (11/6/08)

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Tuya's Marriage
 2006  3.4 stars 86 mins Foreign (Mandarin)   Rated: NR  until 15-Feb-2012

Reviewed on 03/Nov/08
This is an easy going slice of life in Mongolia. Good for those interested in foreign cultures. It's a lot like The Cave of the Yellow Dog and The Story of the Weeping Camel (which is still my favorite). Give it a go if you are at all interested in Mongolian Cinema. There are worse ways to spend your time. (11/4/08)

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Changeling
 2008  3.8 stars 142 mins Drama   Rated: R

Reviewed on 02/Nov/08
In my opinion Angelina Jolie is a very good actress (as long as she doesn't try to do an accent. It always sounds the same no matter where she is supposed to be from). However she's not overly attractive, and even less so in this film as they seem to have uglied her up some. Her character is a courageous mother who lost her son. The acting is top notch including the supporting cast, and especially John Malkovich. But then when does he not give a spectacular performance? This is based on a true story, and while many movies make that claim, in this case (my limited research tells me) the story is more accurate than most. Objectively speaking this entire production is excellent, and may be worthy of 5*. But for me personally I think it's great drama and I liked it a lot, but I didn't love it, so I'm rounding 4.5* down to 4*. Still definitely recommended. (11/3/08)

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Savage Streets
 1984  3.1 stars 93 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R

Reviewed on 02/Nov/08
After a month long wait at the top of my queue, I was pleased to finally get this much anticipated 80's Exploitation revenge Action flick. I was not disappointed in the least. If anything this movie exceeded my expectations. Don't get me wrong, this is a B movie and therefore it is for fans who can appreciate that. As B movies go it's at the upper end. At the risk of using an oxymoron I would call it a masterpiece of schlock. Of course in all honesty I can't say any of the acting is good. Let's just say it works. It fits the cheesy style and everything fits together to make this great entertainment. I think the director was successful in achieving what he was aiming for. Linda Blair is so cute in this. This is one for the guys, but I'm sure some of the girls will like it too. You have to be a fan of Exploitation and B Action flicks. If that is the case I highly recommend it. (11/3/08)

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No Mercy, No Future
 1981  2.1 stars 108 mins Foreign (German)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 02/Nov/08
Not titillating like good exploitation, I don't know if this is bad exploitation disguised at art, or just bad art. I don't know, maybe it is something else. All I know for sure is that it's not my cup of tea. I can't speak for anyone else and I'm not sure what the director was trying to do. As far as being shocking and disturbing, the film succeeded there. Does it have another purpose other than that? If it does I missed it. 2.5* rounded down. You might think otherwise, especially if you are into Foreign Art House stuff. (11/3/08)

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Red Ridge
 2006  2.4 stars 90 mins Thrillers   Rated: NR  until 01-Nov-2011

Reviewed on 01/Nov/08
Better than expected and a worthwhile rent for Horror fans. Actually it's more Thriller than Horror. It maintains a suspenseful tension throughout. With no reviews (yet) I was skeptical of it and I didn't really expect it to be any good. However I like to take chances on obscure titles and sometime I find hidden gems. While I wouldn't go so far as to call it one, it's close to that and may be for some viewers. I consider this a solid 3.5* but I'm rounding down because while it is good, it is not really original, unique, or otherwise memorable. Just good. (11/2/08)

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Red
 2007  3.6 stars 98 mins Drama   Rated: R  until 28-Nov-2011

Reviewed on 30/Oct/08
A stunning performance by Brian Cox highlights this expertly done Drama. What a great actor! This story is very sad. It's kind of slow but I didn't find it boring at all. Subjectively, the subject matter is a little too dark for me to give it 5*, although objectively speaking it may deserve it. The limited action is violent and refreshing, and the whole movie has an edgy intensity to it. The scene with the dog is heartbreaking but it happens early on, and it's in the synopsis so I was expecting it. It is what the movie is about so I guess it's kind of necessary. Still it may be disturbing for dog lover's and children. Except for that one issue I recommend it to anyone who loves good Drama. (10/31/08)

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The Edge of Heaven
 2007  3.6 stars 122 mins Foreign (German)   Rated: NR  until 14-Apr-2010

Reviewed on 27/Oct/08
Fans of Foreign Cinema should find this film rewarding, but newcomers to the genre could be put off by the style and the slowness of the story. Most of the character are interesting but neither likable nor attractive and there is not much in the way of action. It excels as a drama and shows an atypical slice of Turkish culture. There are no language or subtitle options. Here is what you get. German is spoken by Germans, Turkish by Turks and English by both whenever the characters don't speak each other's native tongues. Decent English subtitles appear whenever something other than English is spoken. The story involves a prostitute and also a lesbian relationship, so parents beware, although no really explicit sex or nudity is ever shown. One of the highlights for me was the modern Turkish music, but then I am into international flavors of music and culture. I think this is a well made film with good acting and it's far from the mainstream. I recommend it for fans of the genre, but I realize it won't be good for everyone. I hope this helps you decide if it might be right for you. (10/28/08)

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Sunset Grill
 1993  2.6 stars 104 mins Thrillers   Rated: R  until 31-Aug-2011

Reviewed on 27/Oct/08
This is a pretty good B movie complete with a farfetched story, stereotypes and cliches, decent action, a drunken detective, and some gratuitous female nudity thrown in for good measure. I liked Peter Weller in this, and the rest of the cast did okay. It's basically a popcorn flick. I couldn't find much not to like. It's kind of a mystery. I recommend it for B movie fans. Just don't expect a masterpiece. I took a chance on it and found it to be entertaining and fun. Who knows? Maybe you will too. (10/28/08)

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RocknRolla
 2008  3.4 stars 115 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 26/Oct/08
This was kind of disappointing for me. It was good but not as good as I hoped or expected. Tom Wilkinson was fantastic, and the rest of the cast were good. The story was okay, even though it was convoluted as usual for a Guy Ritchie film. I enjoyed it except for the boring part which unfortunately was about two thirds of the movie. It could have used some more action and more comedy. You can see most of the funnier parts in the previews. I wouldn't recommend not seeing this, and if you are a fan you should. Just don't expect it it to be as good as Snatch or LS&2SB. For me it wasn't. However I did find it to be as good or better than Revolver. I would not recommend rushing out to see it at the theater as I did. Instead it might be better to wait for the DVD release. (10/27/08)

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Anaconda 3: The Offspring
 2008  2.6 stars 91 mins Horror   Rated: R

Reviewed on 25/Oct/08
These snakes have some "upgrades". Bigger, badder, uglier, and a tail that they use like a sword to stick through their victims' chests. Also they can move at about 60 mph (at least). The mama anaconda gives birth to some baby boas. The CGI is cheesier than ever, and the acting is about as you would expect, although I did think Hasselhoff was pretty cool. Crystal Allen is hot (I'd never heard of her before). Extremely gory in some parts and fans of the genre should get a kick out of it. Anyone looking for something good or serious should leave it alone. For some viewers it could be "so bad it's good". That's a matter of opinion. Check it out if you are into this sort of schlock. (10/26/08)

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Linewatch
 2008  3.2 stars 90 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 22/Oct/08
This is a well made independent action thriller about a Border Patrol agent in New Mexico whose past catches up with him. It has an edgy tension throughout that culminates in some very intense action and a satisfying ending. Not too original and kind of predictable, but it has good acting and great camera work. I liked it a lot, and I recommend it, especially for anyone who likes Cuba Gooding Jr. (10/23/08)

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Stone Merchant
 2006  2.8 stars 107 mins Foreign   Rated: R

Reviewed on 20/Oct/08
This is a very good movie about terrorism from the point of view of a victim of a terrorist attack. He is a college professor who lost his legs in the bombing of the U.S. embassy in Kenya. He is obsessed with terrorism and seems paranoid to his friends, colleagues and his wife. But is he paranoid or are they really out to get him?... Us?... Everyone? What do you think? There are some flaws in the plot, like why does Jane March's character fall for that old goat? (Harvey Keitel) No I'm not jealous, it's a legitimate question... I guess. Anyway I really enjoyed this movie and the scenes of the Fairy Chimneys were a real treat. This is an Italy/ United Kingdom co-production. I know because it says so at the beginning and end. It's All in English with no subtitles but I think they did an excellent job on the dubbing. Give it a try, it's good. I liked it a lot, and would I lie to you? (10/21/08)

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Lords of the Street
 2008  2.2 stars 83 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 19/Oct/08
Not the worst movie I've seen. That's about the nicest thing I can say about this terrible low budget movie. It has bad picture and sound quality, bad acting, cheesy dialogue, but worst of all those bullets that ricochet off of everything, and just make sparks instead of bullet holes. I wish I could say it's so bad it's good, but it's not. At least it didn't put me to sleep. Oh, I forgot, it did. I had to watch the ending the next day so I could be fair with my review. So here goes fair. To be honest I didn't hate it. I just very much didn't like it. (10/20/08)

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Max Payne
 2008  3.0 stars 100 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: UR

Reviewed on 19/Oct/08
When I heard a couple of professional movie critics trashing this on the radio, that was my first clue that this might be a great movie. After all they usually prefer art to action and they rarely like gratuitous violence. Well I decided to go to the theater and I had to choose between this and Miracle at St. Anna. At 2 hours and 40 minutes (an hour longer than Max Payne) I think I will be waiting for the DVD of "Miracle". Now, back to the subject, I was surprised, pleased, almost blown away. Much better than I expected, this has great action, suspense, over the top gun battles, and awesome FX. I had never played or even heard of the video game so I can't compare it to that. I judge it on it's own merit. Although it's more psychological than supernatural thriller, this reminded me a lot of Constantine. It may not be critically acclaimed, and it sure won't win an Oscar, but I think this is fun and well worth watching. Highly recommended for fans of stylized over the top action flicks. (10/20/08)

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ESL: English as a Second Language
 2005  3.3 stars 105 mins Drama   Rated: R

Reviewed on 19/Oct/08
The dialogue in this is half English and half Spanish which gives it a natural realism. It has excellent English subtitles that appear only when they are speaking Spanish. If you set subtitles to Spanish they appear only when English is spoken. The subtitles were not a problem. This movie has deeper issues. I don't want to spoil anything but in my opinion what I am about to say should be in the synopsis (which would help people decide if they want to rent it). If you are worried about learning too much stop reading here (or skip the next sentence). Kuno Becker does a decent job playing a terrible role as an undocumented immigrant who quickly gives up trying to find work the hard way and becomes an exotic male dancer and gigolo. His character is unlikable and stupid. It's the story that turned me off to this movie. Danielle Camastra is also good and her character, while more likable and not quite as stupid as Kuno's is a self destructive mess. She is the highlight of the film but even she could not save this failed attempt at serious social drama. Maria Conchita Alonso is great as a totally abhorrent mother from hell B word and the most unlikable character of all. Latin American Cinema is one of my favorite genres, but this didn't live up to my expectations. Anybody interested in seeing a really good film about Mexican immigration do yourself a favor and see Under the Same Moon. I highly recommend that one. This one is a dud. (10/20/08)

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Tortilla Heaven
 2005  2.6 stars 97 mins Comedy   Rated: PG-13

Reviewed on 17/Oct/08
This is pretty good for an independent low budget Latin comedy. It's about a tortilla with the image of Jesus burned onto it, and the resulting chaos as the naive residents of a small town are consumed with greed while trying to capitalize on the "miracle". It's a fun over the top parody that takes a lighthearted poke at religion at the expense of all the characters. It has a good cast which includes Irene Bedard, a Native American actress who is always excellent in everything she does. Many viewers will recognize her face if not her name. Also Elpedia Carillo. Remember her from Predator? ("la selva se lo llevo", "the jungle took him"). George Lopez has a rather subdued role as a policeman. Miguel Sandoval plays the slick business consultant/ con man/ attorney. Overall this is not a great movie but worth watching at least once. I consider it 3.5* but I have to round up when I compare it to some of the things I've given 3* to lately. Recommended for fans of the cast, or of Latin American Cinema, or religious parody, or just something different. (10/18/08)

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The Appaloosa
 1966  3.3 stars 99 mins Classics   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 15/Oct/08
For me this was a really enjoyable Classic Western. Sweeping Southwestern panoramas and an interesting story make for a good popcorn flick and a fulfilling cowboy yarn for Western fans. The acting is not the best, but John Saxon does make a great over the top Mexican bandido. He and his gang members are stereotypical to the point of caricature but that adds to the fun. It may seem dated or contrived to critical viewers, but for fans of the genre, I consider this a sure bet. (10/16/08)

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Cyborg Soldier
 2008  2.9 stars 84 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R

Reviewed on 11/Oct/08
Average B Sci-fi movie. It has some fairly good action. It was fun to watch and not boring (for me anyway). It has poor acting especially by the lead actor, and an unoriginal story. There is really not much to recommend. Is it entertaining? Yes. Highly entertaining? I wouldn't go that far. If you are looking for quality it may annoy you. But if you like B movies, like the kind they show on the Sci-fi channel, then you might want to give it a go. (10/12/08)

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Otis
 2008  3.2 stars 100 mins Horror   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 10/Oct/08
Let me start out by saying this movie has a really good soundtrack. Besides that it's a great campy Horror parody, along the lines of Fido although not that lighthearted. It is darker and will probably appeal to a narrower fan base. Fido will appeal to many viewers that don't normally like Horror, whereas this requires a certain tolerance for gore (and attempted rape and torture). The fact that I loved this movie may make me seem a little sick in the head, but oh well, what can I say. I like to be honest with my opinions. And that's what I'm talking about. In my opinion this movie is outrageously creepy and funny at the same time. The acting, while mostly over top, is great. Ashley Johnson plays a High School girl who gets kidnapped by Otis, and I really enjoyed Illeana Douglas as her vengeful mother. She is outright hilarious in a sick and twisted way. The rest of the cast are good too, including Jere Burns who plays an FBI agent you just want to throttle. I don't recommend this movie to everyone, but for those who like campy Horror parodies, you should seriously consider it. (10/11/08)

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Appaloosa
 2008  3.3 stars 115 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R

Reviewed on 05/Oct/08
Deliberately slow, but not tedious, this great Western does not have a lot of action. Nevertheless it was a highly entertaining and rewarding experience for me mostly because of the awesome acting, but also the cinematography, and the originality of the story. The characters themselves may be cliches of rugged western toughness, but the story unfolds in a very unique and artful manner. I would be lying if I said I knew exactly why I loved it as much as I did, and I realize some viewers may have a totally different reaction to it. My rating is purely subjective. It is based more on the way the movie made me feel than on anything I can put my finger on. There was just not a lot of action and I am an action fan. The shootouts did not last long, but were quick and deadly. Anyway I also like drama when it is good, as it is in this case. If you can get into a slow Western then I highly recommend it. If you have to have lots of action it's hard to say what you will think of it. Hopefully I helped you decide if it is worth a try, and if you do watch it I hope you love it as much as I did. (10/7/08)

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Santouri: The Music Man
 2007  3.2 stars 106 mins Foreign   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 05/Oct/08
Fans of foreign film should love this hidden gem from Iran. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the heart and soul of this absolutely awesome work. Well written and well acted, it is a heart wrenching story punctuated by lush, exquisite music. The lead character plays an instrument called a santour also known as a hammer dulcimer in English. The sound is like part harp and part harpsichord. He is accompanied by drums and guitar. His vocals are soothing and haunting at the same time. Of course if you have narrow tastes in music you probably won't like it, but for those who enjoy music from other cultures it will be worthwhile. His journey into the dismal depths of addiction, and the resulting loss of everything including family and friends is extremely sad but very realistic. However eventually redemption and hope are found and ultimately lead to a satisfying conclusion. This film is nothing if not a masterpiece. Unfortunately the subtitles do not do it justice, which is the only reason I don't give this 5*. Hard to see white letters on a sometimes white background, as well as a poor English translation detract from an otherwise great viewing experience. However while details of the dialogue may be lost, the story is still easy to follow and it is mostly obvious what is happening. Even with the flawed subtitles I give this 4.5*. If you are a fan of Foreign Cinema, World Music, intense Drama, or anything far from the mainstream, I highly recommend this wonderful Iranian film. (10/6/08)

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Rogue
 2007  3.3 stars 99 mins Thrillers   Rated: UR

Reviewed on 05/Oct/08
This is the best of the three killer croc movies I have seen lately. Croc was a campy fun B flick complete with bad acting but killer scenery filmed in Thailand. I gave it 3*. Black Water was an Australian Horror film that took itself seriously but lacked the substance to make it really worthwhile. It had good FX and some scary moments but tended to drag out the scenes and it was just too slow. I didn't like that one (2*). Rogue on the other hand had all the qualities missing from the others as well as some good qualities of each. Well written and well acted, suspenseful and scary, and it is not slow. It has some of the most beautiful scenery, that is shown throughout the film and contrasts with the horrific creature that lurks beneath the surface of the clear pristine water. It's not too gory, relatively speaking. It is an edge of your seat thriller than that will keep your attention and might make you jump, but probably won't gross you out too much. I recommend this excellent movie for most viewers. I hope I helped you decide if it is right for you. 4* (10/6/08)

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Class of 1984
 1982  3.2 stars 96 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 02/Oct/08
This is a great B movie from the 80's. You really have to like B movies to appreciate it. With the exception of Roddy McDowall and to a lesser degree Michael J. Fox, pretty much all of the acting is terrible, but it is still very entertaining. The violence is gratuitous and the entire movie is exploitative and trashy. If those sound like negative qualities, then you may want to pass on this, but for me those are things that one expects with this type of movie. The expression "so bad it's good" fits this well. And rest assured, it has plenty of action. It's about a teacher who wreaks vigilante revenge on High School punks. What's not to like about that? Well I know it's not for everyone, but I really liked it a lot and I recommend it to all B action fans. (10/3/08)

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Liberia: An Uncivil War
 2004  2.9 stars 102 mins Documentary   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 28/Sep/08
This documentary gives a cursory view of the Liberian civil war. There is not much attention paid to the causes and politics of the conflict. It's more about pointing the finger at the international community and especially the United States for not intervening to stop the bloodshed and raping and pillaging of Monrovia, the capitol. Peace keeping forces might have prevented the horrific violence. This doc is worth watching once if you are interested in Liberia, or modern African history in general. However, it may be hard to watch for sensitive viewers due to bloody footage of killings and mutilations. I can't say I recommend it. (9/29/08)

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Eagle Eye
 2008  3.7 stars 118 mins Thrillers   Rated: PG-13

Reviewed on 27/Sep/08
As expected, this adrenalin laced action-packed roller coaster ride was very entertaining. Shia LaBeouf is maturing professionally and this picture is a good addition to his resume. The star studded supporting cast is also quite fulfilling. The stunts and FX are top notch. The story moves at a good pace and keeps one on the edge of one's seat. The only problem is the well worn plot. It borrows from War Games, Enemy of the State, The Manchurian Candidate, and the Terminator. Totally unlikely and moderately predictable plot twist are nonetheless forgivable in light of the excellent delivery of the action sequences. I would give it 5* for action and 3* for the plot, thus an average 4* means it's a good action thriller I would recommend to action fans who don't require an original or believable plot. I was able to let that slide, and I enjoyed it a lot. (9/28/08)

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Far North
 2007  2.7 stars 89 mins Drama   Rated: R  until 23-Sep-2010

Reviewed on 27/Sep/08
Sweeping panoramas of stark northern beauty are the highlights of this film. Good acting by the minimal cast is also a plus. One very significant detail in an otherwise realistic and believable plot bothered me. I found it to be out of character, not in essence but in execution. As far as the story goes it's fine, but it seems to suspend the realism for shock value alone. I can't explain without spoiling it but if you watch it you will see what I mean. Filmed in the Norwegian Arctic, the scenery is spectacular and awesome. The film is well worth seeing if you don't mind some scenes that are shocking and disturbing. I liked it a lot, except for the scene I mentioned, and that just made me roll my eyes. I recommend it for most but not all viewers. Those who are more sensitive or require happy endings may want to pass. (9/28/08)

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Starship Troopers 3: Marauder
 2008  2.8 stars 105 mins Sci-Fi & Fantasy   Rated: R

Reviewed on 24/Sep/08
Although not nearly as good as the original Starship Troopers, this is much better than Starship Troopers 2, and also closer in style and story to the original. After recently watching the sequel (ST2) I was pleasantly surprised to see that this one is back on track with the spirit and feel of the original. Like I said, it's not as good as the first one, but way better than the second. The whole thing is pretty ridiculous. But if you want to see some bloody crazy campy gory over the top Sci-fi action, along with some thinly veiled political satire with religious undertones, then I highly recommend it. If you are not into that, it may go over like a lead balloon.

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El Callejon De Los Milagros
 1995  3.5 stars 140 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 23/Sep/08
As a fan of Latin American Cinema, and especially of Salma Hayek, this movie was a must see for me. In some ways it delivered, but it did have a down side. I think the gay scene could have gotten it's message across without the double full frontal male nudity. Other viewers may also find this disturbing. Okay I'm over it, and as the film continues it starts to drag about half way through. The same story is told four times, and each time the main focus is on a different character. It is a good drama with good acting, but I can't say it was anything to write home about. I was not disappointed with Salma (I never have been yet). Besides being drop dead gorgeous her acting is always top notch. She's a class act in my book. The movie has no dubbing. It's Spanish language only and the optional English subtitles are adequate but with a few typos and other flaws, but fairly accurate in the translation. I liked this drama, but I won't be in a hurry to watch it again. I recommend it, but only for fans of Mexican Cinema, and for fans of Salma Hayek it goes without saying.

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Scorpion
 2007  2.5 stars 98 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 21/Sep/08
Much better than I expected. I didn't realize it's a French film until I started watching it. I don't recommend the default English dubbing. It's much better with the original French language and English subtitles. Every time I put the dubbing on I had to switch it back right away. The sound doesn't sync with the lip movements and the voice of the main character sounds like one I have heard many times before in Hong Kong movies. I couldn't take it seriously but it wasn't funny because this isn't "so bad it's good". It's just not that bad. The MMA fighting scenes are not that great but okay. What it does have going for it is decent acting and a likable leading character. The story is good although it's totally unoriginal. Even though it's French, it's not artsy, boring, or pretentious. I liked this movie, but I would only recommend it to fans of foreign B action who don't mind subtitles. I can't recommend the dubbing at all. Take it or leave it, it is what it is. Anyway, I hope I've helped you decide.

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Lakeview Terrace
 2008  3.3 stars 110 mins Thrillers   Rated: PG-13  until 19-Jun-2010

Reviewed on 21/Sep/08
Another stellar performance by Sam Jackson. This time he plays a psycho cop making life miserable for his neighbors, an interracial couple that just moved into the neighborhood. He may not be completely psycho but he definitely has issues. This is Jackson's movie, and the supporting cast is just that. It's fun to watch and hate his character. He puts the viewer on edge and the suspense is palpable. The tension builds to a predictable yet satisfying conclusion. I wouldn't call this a great thriller, but it is a good one, and I do recommend it.

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Jodhaa Akbar
 2007  3.8 stars 213 mins Foreign (Hindi)   Rated: NR  until 15-Feb-2011

Reviewed on 20/Sep/08
Excellent Bollywood romantic epic. It has lavish sets, exquisite song and dance (but not too much of it) good battle scenes with live action and some decent CGI when they show long distance views of the battlefield. Oh yes and beautiful movie stars. It's mostly a Romance. At 3 1/2 hours I think it is a little too long. I would have liked to see more action and less romance, but that's just me. It's a brilliant heart warming chick flick. Not really my cup of tea but I must admit I really did enjoy it. The story is about historical characters but it's a fantasy. A fairy tale. You never see a speck of trash or a person with dirty clothes or even even someone who looks poor. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying don't expect realism. It's a feel good picture full of stunning visuals and first class acting. I recommend it. Who knows? You may even like it more than I did.

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Before the Rains
 2007  3.2 stars 98 mins Drama   Rated: PG-13  until 14-Oct-2015

Reviewed on 18/Sep/08
Beautiful cinematography and a compelling story make this film a pleasure to watch. It deals with infidelity and it's devastating consequences in a traditional society. The telling of the story is more than the story itself, and the journey is more than the destination. The story actually takes a back seat to the awesome visuals. However this is not award worthy material, nor is it profoundly moving. That's not why I like it. I love movies filmed in other countries and India is one of my favorite locations. Kerala in southern India has such beautiful scenery it's almost like the location is the true star and all the actors just have supporting roles, although Nandita Das is gorgeous and the film seems to revolve around her. Don't get me wrong the acting is good, but this is not a movie that requires much thought. I still liked it a lot. I realize it's not for everyone but hopefully it will work for you and I hope you like it as much as I did.

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Matango: Attack of the Mushroom People
 1963  3.2 stars 90 mins Foreign (Japanese)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 17/Sep/08
It's a cheesy Japanese B horror flick, but I found it to be a fun cute silly little gem. This definitely fits into the "So Bad it's Good" genre. It's funny. I enjoyed it with the cheesy English dubbing, but in comes in Japanese language with English subtitles if you prefer. This movie is a real kick in the pants, but if you require high production values and quality effects in all your films, then you had better pass on it.

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Noise
 2007  2.9 stars 88 mins Comedy   Rated: NR  until 01-Apr-2010

Reviewed on 17/Sep/08
Here is an original independent film that is really surprisingly good. It's about a man obsessed with and angered by noise. In general all kinds of noise, but in particular car alarms. He makes it his personal vendetta to fight against the noise that is driving him crazy day and night. The movie is not rated, but if it was, it would be R for one scene of gratuitous nudity. The violence is not extreme and it's mostly directed towards objects and not people. If you like films that are different than the usual mainstream productions, you should like this, unless you don't like Tim Robbins. I do and I liked this movie a lot. I recommend it.

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Great African Films: Vol. 1: Faraw!
 1997  2.6 stars 90 mins Foreign   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 15/Sep/08
This is the story of a woman who is trying to provide for her three children and her disabled husband, on her own, with no help from her community or her government. The courageous woman never gives up her faith or her dignity, and her strength and character never falter. Starvation is just around the corner, but her struggle to persevere is inspiring. It's amazing to see the amount of effort and will power that goes into getting enough food for one meal. The desolate landscape and stark realism are impressive, but the whole movie is extremely sad. It is very well made but I can't say I enjoyed it a lot. It's a little too depressing. I only recommend it for viewers who are interested in different cultures, and in taking a look into the lives of some of the poorest people on earth.

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Righteous Kill
 2008  3.4 stars 103 mins Thrillers   Rated: R  until 09-Nov-2010

Reviewed on 14/Sep/08
These are two great actors together for the first time since Heat. Their acting was good, but this movie is no Heat. In this one they both play detectives, but I think De Niro and Pacino are getting too old to be playing cops. Man, time has not been kind to those two. They both look over seventy. Why is Carla Gugino's character into such an old cop? Oh yeah, that's Hollywood for you. I can see if he was rich or famous, but... never mind. This movie is very dark. None of the characters are likable. The plot twists seem contrived. It's unfortunate such great actors didn't get a better vehicle to show off their talents. I liked the movie but not a whole lot. I don't regret watching it, but I can't say I want to see it again any time soon. I would like to recommend it but I really can't. However if you are like me you will have to see it. In other words, if you are a fan.

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Croc
 2007  2.9 stars 90 mins Horror   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 14/Sep/08
This is a really decent B horror flick. Some of the acting is pretty bad and the effects are cheesy, but it moves along at a pretty good pace, has some pretty girls and beautiful scenery, and the plot, though predictable, is more believable than I expected. It's got no extreme gore, and the scares are minimal. It's a pretty easy going type of movie. If you only like your horror hard core, it's not for you. It's more of a popcorn flick. It's filmed in Krabi Thailand and the tropical landscape is exquisite. Of course there is nothing sophisticated about it, after all it is a B horror movie. If you like that sort of thing, I recommend it. If not then don't bother.

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Burn After Reading
 2008  3.1 stars 96 mins Comedy   Rated: R

Reviewed on 14/Sep/08
If you are a fan of the Coen brother's films, you should like this one too. It's another dark comedy, but compared to Fargo I would say this is lighter and more consistently funny. I'm not saying it's better, just different. Clooney, Pitt and Malkovich are hilarious throughout, and Frances McDormand is great as always. I also liked Tilda Swinton as the least likable character. You just love to hate her. The scenes where the CIA agents were portrayed as inept buffoons had me laughing with every scene. They are downright ludicrous. The whole movie is a kick in the pants, and I highly recommend it.

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Great African Films: The Desert Ark
 1997  2.0 stars 90 mins Foreign (Arabic)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 08/Sep/08
If you like independent foreign films that are far from the mainstream, you might like this little jewel from Algeria. The language is French but the English subtitles are excellent and easy to follow. It's a masterfully presented look at life on an oasis in the Sahara and the lives of the diverse peoples that populate it. Creeping dunes like tsunamis of sand threaten to engulf everything in their path. Rich and varied costumes along with a lush and haunting soundtrack give it a surreal affect, and with the stylized yet visceral realism of the characters, an atmosphere of sensual indulgence is created. When love crosses ethnic and tribal boundaries it awakens age old rivalries and wreaks havoc on a community where intolerance and cruelty can be stronger than love or reason. Solutions involving betrayal can only make things worse when strong willed lovers clash with overbearing relatives, and destruction and death result as the inevitable consequence of tradition and power. The message is dark and the story is heartrending, but I was left with a good feeling when it was over. Maybe that's because I had proven once again that I can still find a hidden gem among the slag of obscure titles that I often dig through. Sometimes it's all in vain but this time I found a winner, and that makes it all worthwhile.

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Bangkok Dangerous
 2008  3.1 stars 99 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R

Reviewed on 07/Sep/08
Being full of cliches and predictable but unbelievable situations is not enough to kill an action flick, if the action is good. That's the problem. The action is not that good, and there is not that much of it. There is really only one likable character (not counting the deaf-mute) and that's the "student". Nicolas Cage is actually fairly believable as a hit man with a twinge of conscience and a lack of intelligence. But he's not likable. I really didn't have a problem with the acting. It's all decent. The main problem with this movie is that it is just too slow. However I have to give it 3* because it wasn't bad enough to dislike, it just wasn't good enough to like it a lot.

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The Apartment
 1996  3.1 stars 116 mins Foreign (French)   Rated: R  until 01-Mar-2011

Reviewed on 07/Sep/08
Although I'm not a huge fan of French Cinema, I am a big fan of Monica Belucci. She is one of my favorite actresses. I would like to have seen more of her (she was in less than half the scenes), but Romane Borhinger and Vincent Cassel were good too, and the film had high production values overall. This is the original that Wicker Park was a remake of. I think it's safe to say that Hollywood remakes of foreign films are usually not as good as the original, and that is the case here. Some viewers may be put off by the twist ending, but it worked for me. (If I remember correctly they changed the ending for Wicker Park). If you like Monica and want to see more of her in a lighter, more fun, romantic comedy I recommend "How Much Do You Love Me?" If you want to see her in a great dramatic role (with some humor too) I recommend "Malena". If you are not familiar with her at all, see "Malena" first, and I am sure you will love her as I do.

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Snuff
 2008  2.7 stars 76 mins Documentary   Rated: NR  until 26-Aug-2011

Reviewed on 07/Sep/08
This is borderline exploitation and lacking in good material on the subject. Until now I never knew there was a controversy over the existence of snuff films. It's naive to call it an urban myth but before this film I had never heard that anyone denied the existence of them. Is it a true documentary or just an attempt at attracting gore hounds? How much research was actually done? I don't consider my self a hard core gore fan but I must admit I rented this out of curiosity, and I do like to see films that push the limits of decency. This one does cross over that line, but most of it is not that extreme. The most shocking part is a short clip from Cannibal Holocaust. What does that have to do with snuff films? Exactly! War footage and horror films provide filler material for a lack of information on the actual subject. I give this 2.5* but I'm rounding up for the filmmaker's willingness to push the limits. I can respect that.

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The Art of Travel
 2008  3.4 stars 101 mins Independent   Rated: R  until 01-Aug-2010

Reviewed on 05/Sep/08
While this movie appears to try hard it never quite realizes it's potential. The idea of a self discovery story in exotic locales appealed to me as soon as I read the synopsis. So I queued it up right away hoping to discover something different. Not quite the hidden gem I was looking for but I found it worth watching once. Christopher Masterson did a decent job, but his character was not real likable. He was spoiled, dull, and not very smart. Maria Conchita Alonso is great but she only had a bit part. Most of the other actors didn't seem real and it just seemed obvious they were acting the whole time. All the characters were shallow and under developed. There is no violence to speak of, and one brief scene with two topless girls is apparently what got it the R rating. The movie is also a romance for a while but it lacks passion. This film was not bad, and I can appreciate the effort, but it needed something more. More drama, more sex, more violence, more message, more intelligence, more interesting characters, some humor maybe... anything to pull it up out of mediocrity. Just a little something to boost it up a notch and I would have rounded up. As it is I give it 3.5* and I'm rounding down.

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Two Nights with Cleopatra
 1953  2.1 stars 81 mins Classics   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 03/Sep/08
Sophia Loren is absolutely knock dead ravishing as Cleopatra. She rates 5* hands down. Unfortunately the rest of the movie is so irritatingly obnoxious with the horrible dubbing it's only worth 1*. If the movie were in Italian it would have to be better. Averaged out I have to give it 3*, and that's all for you know who.

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Yellow
 2006  2.8 stars 93 mins Drama   Rated: R

Reviewed on 02/Sep/08
There are stripper movies like Striptease and Dancing at the Blue Iguana, but this is not a stripper movie. This is about a dancer who happens to get a job in a strip club to make ends meet, but never gives up her dream of becoming a professional dancer. It's a character study and a serious drama. The story is well developed. This is not sexploitation (which I like) but it's good anyway. The genre that best describes it is Latin American Cinema. If you like that it should be a good fit for you. If you like Roselyn Sanchez all the better.

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Traitor
 2008  3.6 stars 114 mins Thrillers   Rated: PG-13  until 20-Oct-2010

Reviewed on 01/Sep/08
A movie about terrorism should have enough violence to be rated R. An undercover agent should be believable enough to convince the audience that he could convince his fellow terrorists. The PG-13 rating might have tipped me off to a lack of realism in this movie, but I didn't even notice that before I went to see it. I expected so much more from it judging from the previews. I expected a serious film about a serious subject and what I got was a formulaic pretentious Hollywood commercial venture with plot holes you could drive a truck bomb thru. It was obvious Cheadle's character was conflicted about his job, and struggling with his conscience, and never quite fit in as a terrorist. As far as insights into deeper religious or ethical questions I found it lacking in that department as well. The stereotypes were the same as usual. I found the portrayal of the fanatics to be neither original nor shocking. If this was a B exploitative over the top action flick I could forgive it the plot holes and cheesy writing, but a serious movie needs to be worthy of being taken seriously. The reason I'm giving this movie 3* is it started out good, kept my attention throughout, and the acting was decent. However what started out looking like it could be a 4* or even 5* experience, degraded into something much less. I'm sure many viewers will like this more than I did but I couldn't help being critical. I wanted better.

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Red Sun
 1971  3.4 stars 112 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: PG  starting 19-Mar-2010

Reviewed on 01/Sep/08
As an international stylized Spaghetti Western, this movie should not be taken too seriously. It has a few ridiculous elements like the Comanches speaking gibberish rather than... well Comanche. And of course the actors are not American Indians but rather Spaniards and Italians. Once I saw a large town or small city in the background that wasn't in the story. The movie is supposed to be based on a true story but of course it got embellished a bit. Anyway that's enough negativity. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Now for the good stuff. Toshiro Mifune is great as always, Charles Bronson is his usual cheerful self, and Ursula Andress is naturally stunning, and you get to see more of her than you might expect. Alain Delon does okay as a likable bad guy. The story is fun, with lots of action and it's worthwhile watch if you are not too critical. I recommend it for fans of the actors and the genre.

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The Ring
 1952  2.2 stars 80 mins Classics   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 25/Aug/08
This is a boxing movie but the real knockout is a young Rita Moreno (pun intended). All kidding aside this is a pretty good movie. The sound and picture quality are not the greatest. It's done in black & white and there is a lot of background noise. On the upside the acting is decent and the characters are likable. The story is realistic but fairly predictable. It's no Rocky, but more typical of other boxing movies of the era where the promoters exploit the poor fighters who barely make enough to get by. Social injustice and racial discrimination are dealt with from a 1950's perspective as those issues relate to Mexican families living in Los Angeles at the time. In spite of it's flaws I found it entertaining. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone but if you have enjoyed other black & white films from the 50's you might appreciate this one as well. I would give this 3.5* but I'm going to round up for Rita. Did I mention she's a knockout?

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Orson Welles' Don Quixote
 1992  2.2 stars 115 mins Drama   Rated: NR  until 19-Aug-2010

Reviewed on 24/Aug/08
Contrary to the details given, there was no choice of languages, and no subtitles at all. It only came with some really terrible English dubbing that got old quick. As a failed Orson Welles project it's a novelty at best. Don't expect a hidden gem which is what I was looking for. If you can't resist your curiosity, don't take my word for it, by all means see for yourself. Just don't say I didn't warn you.

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Death Race
 2008  3.7 stars 105 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R

Reviewed on 24/Aug/08
Based on the 70's movie Death Race 2000, this is so much more. It has death, races, and it's co-produced by Roger Corman but the similarities stop there. Whereas DR 2000 was pure camp, this is an over the top extreme action flick. Schlock has come a long way! My friend BuBBa was right when he said this movie rocks. I would go a step further and call it a masterpiece. A sensational work of nihilism, death and destruction. Sure it will never win an Oscar but that is unfortunate. It would be nice for a change. The violence is shameless, extreme, and gratuitous. In other words it's awesome. It turned out much better than the previews implied. If you like lots of action you will not be disappointed. I don't want to spoil anything, but I have got to say it has a great ending. So don't let this one pass you by. Great action flicks are too few and far between.

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The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior
 2008  2.9 stars 109 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: PG-13  until 01-Oct-2012

Reviewed on 23/Aug/08
As expected this turned out to be a fun fantasy flick. I would have given it 4* if not for the totally out of place casting of Randy Couture. His dull witted redneck speech and appearance did not fit in with the exotic feel and setting of the rest of the movie. Almost any B actor would have been better, "actor" being the key word. I thought the rest of the cast did a decent job including Michael Copon and especially Karen David. Some of the special effects were really cheesy while others were pretty good. Overall it's a good family friendly fun fantasy popcorn flick. Recommended if you like that sort of thing.

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Chato's Land
 1971  3.3 stars 110 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: PG

Reviewed on 19/Aug/08
Chato's Land is a really good western. Charles Bronson is actually believable as a half breed Apache being hunted by a posse of foolish vigilantes. They should have known better than to mess with Chato. Very well acted including a noteworthy performance by Jack Palance. This is very entertaining, refreshingly violent, and one of Charles Bronson's best movies. Highly recommended for western fans.

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Cyxork 7
 2006  1.8 stars 93 mins Comedy   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 17/Aug/08
Not as bad as I expected. Why did I rent it, you ask? Well because I like some cheesy B movies, and even find some hidden gems once in a while. This is not one of those. Objectively I would give this 2*, but since I rate movies subjectively, I can't say I didn't like it. It was funny sometimes and the acting was not bad. I got a kick out of it. Just don't expect too much.

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Macon County Jail
 1997  2.5 stars 89 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 17/Aug/08
Great B action flick! What can I say? I took a chance and it paid off. Sure it has some cliches, plot holes, and other flaws but what do you expect? You can pick it apart or enjoy it. Lots of violence including a rape scene so sensitive viewers beware. However it's not extreme compared to modern horror and some other action movies (not gory). This is a fun movie for action fans, and it's not boring. Just don't expect perfection and you should have a good time with this.

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How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer
 2005  2.5 stars 128 mins Drama   Rated: R  until 01-Sep-2011

Reviewed on 16/Aug/08
In my opinion this is an unrealistic picture of three generations of a family of three pathetic women. Sex is portrayed as a necessary evil, and love is not a factor in the story. The puritanical and hypocritical views of the mother and grandmother are more in line with a fundamentalist upbringing, and seem out of place with their catholic background, especially considering they are not very religious. The teenage daughter played by America Ferrera is interested is sex mostly out of curiosity. Her character is the most believable and the most likable of the three. The mother and grandmother are uptight and conflicted and have got to have it, in spite of their moral standards. When they get it, their experiences are devoid of joy, passion, and excitement. There seems to be a conflict between instinct and reason, and I guess that could be what the movie is about. I don't know, I'm probably missing something. As a fan of exploitation I may be biased. This film is the opposite of that. Why does the oldest and least attractive character show the most skin? Is that meant to shock us? Is it to show that the filmmaker is not shallow? Well this film may be deep, but I found it to be pretentious and self indulgent. It is also too long. However if you like slow boring drama about bored lonely women looking for sex, this might be right up your alley. Otherwise I don't recommend it.

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Black Cloud
 2004  3.2 stars 97 mins Drama   Rated: PG-13  until 30-Apr-2011

Reviewed on 14/Aug/08
This is about a young Navajo Indian man dealing with racism and his own resentment. It's also a sports flick and a coming of age story. I understood the hate and anger, but it got kind of old for me. It dominated his personality and I was wishing he would let it go. Eddie Spears did a good job and I'm sure his acting will improve as he gets more experience. For a better Native American film I recommend Dreamkeeper, Dance Me Outside, or Smoke Signals. Still, this is pretty good. Rent it if you like the genre.

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Macon County Line
 1974  3.0 stars 88 mins Classics   Rated: R

Reviewed on 14/Aug/08
This is an edgy B Indie from the 70's. It starts out with two brother on a road trip, up to no good, getting into some mischief, but mostly just having fun. There is a tension throughout the film that builds as it progresses. Viewers who are not fans of 70's cinema in general may consider it dated. I think this is about a 3.5* rating but I'm rounding up to 4* because I really do like movies from the 70's, and while this one is not the greatest, it is a good example.

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Wet Gold
 1984  2.1 stars 91 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 11/Aug/08
This was about like I expected. There was nothing wrong with it, but there was nothing great about it either. It's a decent popcorn flick. Same old gold fever. Greed, jealousy, paranoia, murder, we've seen it all before, but it is still fun.

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Maid in Sweden
 1971  2.4 stars 80 mins Classics   Rated: R

Reviewed on 10/Aug/08
Christina Lindberg is awesome but her "talents" are kind of wasted in this plotless movie. For sexploitation with violence and a plot, see Thriller: They Call Her One Eye. It has low production values but is highly entertaining as long as you like sex, nudity, and violence done gratuitously. Thriller: a Cruel Picture is said to be the X rated version of the same film but I can't critique it as I haven't seen it. For a better quality sexploitation film with decent acting and a good story see Anita: Swedish Nymphet. It is a classier film with a kind of pseudo sophistication to it. You can also see Christina in a supporting role in Sex & Fury which is a great Japanese sexploitation flick.

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Dark Honeymoon
 2008  2.5 stars 89 mins Thrillers   Rated: NR  until 13-Jul-2010

Reviewed on 10/Aug/08
This movie had some high points that I enjoyed, like the seductive character played by Tia Carrere. Actually it's her I like more than her character. She is always a pleasure to watch. Eye candy for me. The movie vacillated between 2* and 3* stars most of the way through until the completely predictable and unsatisfying ending. I just had to roll my eyes and round down a 2.5* rating to 2*.

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The Hive
 2008  2.4 stars 88 mins Horror   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 10/Aug/08
Ants sticking together to form giant prehensile gravity defying columns that worked like hands, was an interesting concept even if it was a bit stupid. So was the ant computer, and the ants drawing pictures to communicate with humans. The story did have some originality to it. The FX were cheesy from the beginning but I sort of got used to it. This movie kept me mildly amused throughout. I wasn't bored. The beautiful Thai countryside was perhaps the best part. Don't rent it unless you have a high tolerance for really bad B Sci-fi.

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Pineapple Express
 2008  3.5 stars 112 mins Comedy   Rated: R  until 31-May-2010

Reviewed on 10/Aug/08
This is more than a stoner comedy, more than a buddy flick, more than anything I expected, and much better than any comedy I've seen in a long time. It is outright crazy over the top fantastic and just plain fun. If this does not spawn a entirely new sub-genre, it defines and sets the standard for it. Meet the Stoner Action flick! It starts out funny and just gets better. The laughs don't stop with the action. It is hilarious before after and during the great action sequences. I knew James Franco was good, but he has outdone himself in this movie. I suspect this will give a huge boost to his career and I predict we will be seeing him in more leading roles both comedic and serious. Seth Rogen is good too, but I think Franco stole the show. The whole cast did a great job, and the writing and directing were excellent. Everything came together in this near perfect masterpiece. I couldn't ask for more and I highly recommend this Stoner Action Comedy to all.

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The Horsemen
 1971  2.9 stars 109 mins Classics   Rated: PG

Reviewed on 09/Aug/08
Before the Soviet invasion and before the Taliban, there was an Afghan culture that was rich and diverse. Filmed when Afghanistan was still ruled by King Sahir Shah, during a forty year period of stability, before playing music, singing, dancing, kite flying and even shaving were outlawed. Back then women had more rights than today, but for some reason there is only one female character in the story, a beautiful young woman of low caste and morals (played by Leigh Taylor-Young) who is cold hearted and consumed with greed. This film takes a look at Buskashi, a sport that goes back to ancient times, and at some people who are obsessed with it. Omar Sharif plays an unlikable tortured soul who feels he must win an important Buskashi tournament. This movie is dark and brooding, and takes a nihilistic view of humanity, that deals with issues of pride, lust, envy, and stubbornness, but eventually forgiveness and redemption. Animal advocates will be appalled by the cruelty, mainly the fighting of animals for gambling purposes, including camels and rams. I don't think any of it was simulated, in other words, yes, animals were hurt during the making of this film. However it is an important part of the culture and it adds to the realism of the story. Don't rent the movie if scenes of animal cruelty offend your sensibilities. Even some of the treatment of the horses is questionable. With all it's shortcomings, I still think this is a great film. Excellent cinematography featuring spectacular panoramic vistas, top notch directing and award worthy performances by Omar Sharif and Jack Palance make this a most memorable viewing experience, and I highly recommend it.

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Yuma
 1971  3.0 stars 73 mins Classics   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 07/Aug/08
The picture quality is not very good and the DVD has no special features or other menu options, but it is still worth watching for Western fans. The story is mostly predictable but with a twist or two to keep it interesting, and the acting is professional if not stellar. Clint Walker is good. If you have never seen the 50's TV series Cheyenne, he's kind of like Chick Conners in The Rifleman. Strong honest straight shooting tough guys you wouldn't want to mess with. The indians in this movie are played by white guys in make up. That's typical for when it was made, but that always irritated me, even when I was a kid. Another thing typical of these old Westerns is nobody bleeds when they get shot, even if it's at close range with a sawed-off shotgun. Overall the movie turned out to be about what I expected. I didn't love it, but I liked it, and I think most fans of old Westerns will too. If you are a fan of Clint Walker you will like it for sure. However if you don't particularly like him or the genre, you may find nothing here worth your while.

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Wargames 2: The Dead Code
 2008  3.3 stars 99 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: PG-13  until 29-Aug-2010

Reviewed on 07/Aug/08
Apparently this is a sequel and there is no comparison to the original. Judged on it's own merit, it does have some good parts. Decent action and suspense in the first hour make it an alright popcorn flick if you are not too critical. The ending is a totally predictable and ridiculous spin on the original. I'm not sorry I watched it, as I found it to be mildly entertaining. However, I can't say I recommend it.

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Never Back Down
 2008  3.6 stars 113 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: NR  until 01-Sep-2010

Reviewed on 31/Jul/08
This is a decent movie if you like to watch Mixed Martial Arts. The lead actor Sean Faris was obviously selected for his fighting skills, because his acting skills were, well, he didn't have any. The other actors were not a lot better except for Djimon Hounsou who was good as usual. Most of the High School students looked like they were in their twenties (typical) and they all appeared to be rich except for our hot headed hero. But I really can't complain. The fight scenes are plentiful enough to keep this from being boring. The choreography was done well and so was the camera work and editing. I did enjoy it and I think most genre fans will find it satisfying. Recommended if you like to watch fighting.

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Dance Me Outside
 1995  3.4 stars 91 mins Drama   Rated: R

Reviewed on 30/Jul/08
The story takes place on a Canadian Indian reservation, with Adam Beach in a starring role. If you like Native American Cinema you probably already know him. Fans are guaranteed to love this captivating tale of life on the res. Viewers who are not familiar with the genre will be divided. Don't expect a lot of action or very serious drama. This is more of a comedy, even though serious social issues are prevalent throughout. The acting is really good, the mood is light, and I had a smile on my face most of the time. Everything I saw was believable and most of the characters likable. It was lots of fun for me. Check it out. You might enjoy it as much as I did.

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Final Analysis
 1992  3.2 stars 125 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 28/Jul/08
When I read who's in the cast in this one, I had to rent it. I'm glad I did. It's a great thriller, I don't care what anybody says. I admit the sound had issues with all the whispering, but I just turned the volume up and listened closely. It was a minor inconvenience. What started off as a rather predictable plot ended up having some good twists that I didn't expect (not that I was trying to figure it out, I was too busy enjoying it). Richard Gere is a shrink who thinks he can always read people, but this time he may have bitten off more than he could chew. But could anyone resist the charms of someone who looks like Kim Basinger? She and Uma Thurman played sisters who both seemed a little nuts, but you were never quite sure, who is manipulating who? Eric Roberts is in it too, type cast as bad guy mobster. He is good as usual. I think he is underrated. Part erotic thriller and part courtroom drama, this is great entertainment, that if nothing else, will please fans of the actors. I recommend it.

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Silip: Daughters Of Eve
 1985  2.9 stars 125 mins Foreign (Tagalog)   Rated: UR

Reviewed on 27/Jul/08
This is some excellent Asian Sexploitation, that is more dramatic than campy, more artistic than pornographic, but ultimately trashy and nihilistic. The opening scene shows a water buffalo being slaughtered and butchered for food so sensitive animal lovers and vegans may wish to fast forward or avoid the movie altogether. Those who have a problem with sex and nudity should also avoid it. The three lead actresses are exquisitely titillating and their characters likable as they naturally show off their perfect bodies. The movie is about lust and deceit, religion and guilt, jealousy and rage, puberty and adolescent desire, and murder. But most of all it is about sexual obsession. No one will have an excuse for being shocked if they read this and the other reviews. Pass on it if you are not sure, it may be above your tolerance level. For those who can handle it, go with the excellent subtitles rather than the cheesy dubbing. I highly recommend this for exploitation fans only. You know who you are.

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Komodo vs. Cobra
 2005  2.7 stars 94 mins Sci-Fi & Fantasy   Rated: PG-13

Reviewed on 26/Jul/08
Do you like seeing people getting eaten by giant reptiles on an exotic island paradise? if you do then this is a good movie for you as long as you don't mind bad acting and everything else that goes with it. This is similar in quality (or lack of it) to Python, Boa vs. Python, Sabertooth. It appears to be a sequel of Curse of the Komodo, but now they have added giant cobras. Why not? Before "the Curse of" there was a movie called Komodo (made in 1999) that was actually better. It had better acting and FX and it was scarier, more of a horror flick. Another cheesy monster movie that I think is better is Frankenfish. That is closer to the quality of Anacondas: the Hunt for the Blood Orchid. Of course none of these movies are to be taken seriously and if you do you will be disappointed. As for me, once in a while I like to kick back and relax, and turn off my brain and enjoy a super cheesy B sci-fi horror flick like Komodo vs. Cobra. I usually get a kick out of it.

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Puerto Vallarta Squeeze
 2006  3.0 stars 118 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R  until 31-Oct-2011

Reviewed on 25/Jul/08
Another B action gem gleaned from the myriad obscure titles available for those who search and are willing to take a chance like yours truly. Sometimes the search is futile and results in a dud. Other times it pays off as in this wonderful action adventure. I relish this type of low budget, low class fare and I'm a sucker for films in and about Mexico or anywhere south of the border. Amoral and unapologetic, this movie takes a skewed view of life and death that will please those who are not too quick to judge. After all it is a movie, and a B movie at that. It is not perfect. Some parts are not believable, while other parts have a strong element of realism. Scott Glen gives good performance as a likable hitman, and Craig Wasson plays a unlikable loudmouthed whiner, and his acting is a bit over the top. Harvey Keitel plays a complete jerk but at least he keeps his clothes on. Giovanna Zacarias is a beautiful young actress who I had never seen before and she really shines in her leading role. I hope to see more of her in the future. Don't expect a great masterpiece but this movie is very good. I recommend it unless you only like typical mainstream Hollywood stuff.

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Excessive Force
 1993  3.0 stars 87 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R

Reviewed on 22/Jul/08
If you are looking for realism, originality or great acting, you might be disappointed with this one. But if you can live with better than average fight scenes, a cliched and predictable story, and plenty of fast paced action, then you will probably like it. Entertaining and not boring, but strictly for action fans that aren't too critical. 3.5*

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Born to Fight
 2004  3.1 stars 90 mins Foreign (Thai)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 21/Jul/08
It looks like a lot of people got hurt while they were making this film. It's a great martial arts action flick. Fans of Tony Jaa should like this one too. He is not in it, but there are many talented kickboxers, although none may be at his skill level, but then who is? The stunt work is phenomenal with no wires or computer effects. At the end when the credits are rolling you can see them practicing their stunts and getting hurt. Some of the jumps and falls are practiced with cushions to fall on, then they are removed for the final take. There is a huge cast as an entire village fights back against the evil communist drug dealing troops that took them all hostage. It's loads of fun and even the English dubbing is quite good. There's lots of shooting and explosions and lots of killing that is not too bloody. If you are into martial arts and action you can't go wrong with this movie. I recommend it.

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Starship Troopers 2
 2004  2.5 stars 91 mins Sci-Fi & Fantasy   Rated: R

Reviewed on 19/Jul/08
It's a cheesy low budget sequel, but really not that bad if you judge it on it's own, and don't compare it to the first Starship Troopers. It wasn't nearly as bad as I expected after seeing all of the 1 star ratings it got from other reviewers. I have to admit I liked it. It is more Horror and less Sci-fi than the first, but compared to other B Horror movies I've seen lately, it is on par. I enjoyed it enough to not regret watching it, which is by no means an endorsement, but rather a half-hearted defense of it. For me it was okay.

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Kings of the Sun
 1963  3.2 stars 108 mins Classics   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 16/Jul/08
Funny looking Maya Indians were attacked and ran off from (the ruins of) Chichen Itza by Indians from the west with metal swords. Huh? Swords? Yeah, I know. Some of the Indians had blue eyes. Most had ridiculous looking costumes and hairdos. Some had funny looking hats. The Mayans escaped to the north in what looked like Phoenician style sailing ships and arrived at a place where the Indians lived in teepees on the coast of... Texas maybe? Yul Brynner was their chief. He had a sort of top knot hanging off the back of his head that looked like it was left over from when he played Rameses in the Ten Commandments. He had a really bizarre walk that was like a panther or a peacock. He looked at the other actors like he was thinking "what am I doing here with all these amateurs?" He was captured by the Mayans. The Mayan king was tired of his religion and decided to make it more humane. A cast that included a couple thousand extras was pretty much wasted. If all this sounds ridiculous, that's because it is. It's so bad it's... well, just bad... really bad.

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Chop Shop
 2007  3.2 stars 84 mins Independent   Rated: NR  until 08-Jan-2011

Reviewed on 15/Jul/08
So realistic it feels like a documentary sometimes, this is a great indie drama. Alejandro (Ale) and his sister Isamar live amid the body shops and wrecking yards in Queens, New York. You feel for these characters. Ale hustles to make a better life for his sister. He is very protective of her even though he is the younger brother. There is not much of a plot, just the story of the day to day struggle that is reality to these kids. With no parental guidance, crime and poverty are elements of everyday life that cannot be avoided. The movie is sad and kind of slow paced, and may not be good for fans of feel good or mainstream cinema. There is nothing mainstream about this, and it even has a foreign film feel to it. For those who like art house independent drama, I highly recommend Chop Shop. I think you will find it to be well worth your while.

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La Resurreccion de Amanda Morales
 2007  1.7 stars 86 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 14/Jul/08
Very cheaply done. Bad acting, terrible make up and FX. Wait, the FX was the crummy make up. The story was okay or could have been, and some parts bordered on being scary. I almost didn't finish it, but I stuck with it to the end, hoping to get my $1.25 worth. But alas, it was only worth about 39 cents. The second star was for some nice scenery. See it if you must, at least you have been warned.

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Buckle Brothers
 2005  1.8 stars 75 mins Documentary   Rated: PG

Reviewed on 14/Jul/08
This is interesting but nothing to shout about. Good for fans of bull riding or obscure documentaries. Horse stables and farms in Compton and Watts, CA. where you would least expect them, provide an environment for a few African American teenagers to grow up as cowboys. Not your typical inner city youth. They grew up around horses and rode all their lives, and went to a ranch in Perris, CA. that has rodeo bulls and learned to ride them. Some of them go on to compete in the pro rodeo circuit. That's about it in a nutshell. I enjoyed it, but I would hesitate to recommend it, unless you are into rodeo sports or want to see an example of some good kids in a bad neighborhood. No stereotypes here.

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Wanted
 2008  3.6 stars 110 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 13/Jul/08
Judging from the previews and reviews of this I knew I would have to cut it some slack in order to enjoy it. I love action movies and over the top action. I liked Hitman a lot, I loved Shoot 'Em Up, and Jumper was good. They were pretty ridiculous but I was able to suspend my disbelief in order to get the most out of them. That's what I did for Wanted and I went in with an open mind and a forgiving mood. Unfortunately that wasn't enough. I guess I still require some semblance of reason, or at least an illusion of logic. Bullets that curve and inherited abilities of mind over matter I can take, but assassins that take there orders from a loom? Okay I don't want to spoil it so I will stop there with the details. That was just one of many things that bugged me. I wanted so much to like this movie that I gave it the benefit of the doubt until I couldn't give anymore. It went from ridiculous to just plain stupid, but not stupid funny (that I can take). It was bad but not "so bad it's good" (I like that). All the rave reviews are a mystery to me. But go ahead and see it for yourself. I didn't hate it. I almost gave it 3*, but I rounded down from 2.5* because I would be lying if I said I liked it.

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Mandingo
 1975  3.3 stars 127 mins Classics   Rated: R

Reviewed on 12/Jul/08
Exploitation anyone? How about a masterpiece of titillating tasteless schlock of epic proportions? Only in the 70's could something like this have been made. Potentially shocking and disgusting to some viewers, this movie is best left to fans of the genre. It is like Roots' evil twin or a quality version of Goodbye Uncle Tom, but with a plot. Produced by Dino De Laurentiis, this is a big Hollywood production, not your typical B movie. High production values and a good cast including British actor James Mason, Susan George, and boxer Ken Norton, excellent cinematography, and a great soundtrack help to make this an amazing exercise in voyeuristic entertainment. Of course it is also crude and trashy and completely lacking in any moral decency or political correctness. Sounds good huh? Seriously though, slavery is an abomination and there are many more socially responsible movies that deal with the subject in a respectful and mature manner. This on the other hand is best left to fans of exploitation, and if you are not one, why would you want to watch it?

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The Atomic Cafe
 1982  3.7 stars 88 mins Documentary   Rated: NR  until 31-Oct-2010

Reviewed on 11/Jul/08
This is a humorous look at a serious subject. The whole movie is archival footage of mostly government propaganda all about convincing the American public that the atom bomb is our friend. Some parts are hilarious. If you don't feel comfortable laughing at such a serious subject, check out White Light Black Rain: the Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That one is truly horrific and will make you cry. It's mostly about victims and survivors. Or see Trinity and Beyond: Atomic Bomb. It is more neutral and is mostly a history of the making of the atom bomb and has lots of footage of awesome mushroom clouds. It has some funny parts too like when Chinese calvary soldiers (yes on horseback) charge towards ground zero swinging swords and shooting rifles. However if you really want to laugh you must see the Atomic Cafe. It's the best of the three, and except for a few scenes of Hiroshima burn victims, it's mostly a light hearted and self deprecating look at some ridiculous historical footage.

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Bone Eater
 2007  2.2 stars 90 mins Horror   Rated: PG-13

Reviewed on 11/Jul/08
Super cheesy B movie. I'm not sure if it was made for the Sci-fi channel but that's the style, although if it is, it's not one of the better ones. This movie is bad enough to be funny and the cartoonish monster actually looks pretty cool. The story and acting are ridiculous and the over the top stereotypical Native American theme could be offensive to some, as well as the non-Indian actors, including Bruce Boxleitner who was supposed to be half Indian. If that's funny to you you might like it. He plays the part so badly I can't tell if he was trying or not. I got the impression the cast was whoever could show up in a day's notice and, that it was filmed over a weekend. If you like B movies or worse, it might be good for a laugh or two if you are not disgusted by the quality (or lack of it).

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Blood and Wine: A Brazilian Story
 2006  2.3 stars 105 mins Foreign (Portuguese)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 10/Jul/08
While I found this to be an excellent political drama, it was a little too depressing for my tastes. I can't say I liked it a lot but I can say it is well made, well acted, and interesting, and the subtitles were very easy to follow, although the translation was a little off. Recommended for fans of dark depressing political drama. I liked it but not a lot. I'm sure some will like it more than I did, but for me it was just okay. Those looking for a feel good flick with a happy ending will hate it. Because of disturbing scenes of torture and murder this will not be good for kids or sensitive viewers.

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The Pledge
 2008  3.2 stars 90 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: NR  until 12-Jan-2011

Reviewed on 09/Jul/08
This is a low budget Western apparently made for TV. I wasn't expecting much so I wasn't disappointed. Unfortunately I wasn't surprised either. The plot was a generic land baron tries to steal the family ranch with the help of the corrupt sheriff type of story, completely predictable and unoriginal. The cast was really small, I suppose because of the low budget. The acting was not great but decent, and the one actress was pretty. There were no sweeping panoramas and the gunfights were not done very well. I could go on picking it apart but I won't because in spite of all it's flaws it really wasn't that bad. I guess it depends on what you compare it to. I've seen plenty of worse movies, and I actually liked this one, although I'm sure my lower expectations helped. Objectively it stinks, but subjectively I enjoyed it and I'm not sure why. I would recommend it only to those who are not too critical and like B Westerns.

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My Blueberry Nights
 2007  2.9 stars 94 mins Drama   Rated: PG-13

Reviewed on 04/Jul/08
Basically a chick flick (no surprises there) with Nora Jones taking lessons from the pros. Actually she was not bad for a debutante, but appeared more like an observer than a participant. Good acting by Jude law and Natalie Portman and absolutely stellar performances by Jason Strathairn and especially Rachel Weisz made this a movie worth seeing. Nora Jones is visually stunning and if she continues with the acting part of her career, I think we can expect better from her as she gets more experience. Still not bad for a debut. This is a romantic drama but not too dark and should satisfy those looking for a feel good flick as well as fans of independent film in general. It was actually better than I expected and I wouldn't mind watching it again sometime.

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Shotgun Stories
 2007  3.2 stars 92 mins Independent   Rated: PG-13  until 27-Oct-2010

Reviewed on 04/Jul/08
Passable indie drama. Low budget and low key but well acted. It held my interest, but unlike the name implies it has very little on screen violence and no action to speak of. If you are not into independent flicks in particular there is not much to recommend here. However if you are into obscure indies you will probably find it worth your while. Some people will love it just for not being your typical Hollywood fare. Pretty good, but not great. You be the judge if you care to give it a try.

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City of Men
 2007  3.6 stars 110 mins Foreign (Portuguese)   Rated: R

Reviewed on 02/Jul/08
Fans of the Brazilian TV series "City of Men" will love this movie of the same name. From the director of "City of God" this is a continuation of the story of Acerola and Laranjinha, two boys growing up in a Favela (hillside slum) in Rio De Janeiro. The English subtitles are better now, slower and easier to read. Some of the names and nicknames have been translated. Madrugadao (a local gang leader) is "Midnight", Acerola is now "Ace", Cristiane is "Cris" and Laranjinha is "Wallace", which I think is the English equivalent of his real name (Laranjinha is a nickname). Anyway Ace and Wallace are both turning eighteen and they continue the struggle to survive as the neighborhood erupts into an all out gang turf war. If you have already watched the series it makes it nice because you already know the characters. However this movie stands on it's own merit and is excellent even without the context of the series. If you had to choose between the TV series and the movie, I would definitely go with the movie. It has more action and it's darker and more dramatic. But the series is good too, so in order to maximize your pleasure watch it first if you can.

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City of Men
 2003  3.9 stars 570 mins Foreign (Portuguese)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 02/Jul/08
This is a Brazilian TV series about two boys (Acerola and Laranjinha) growing up in one of the Favelas (hillside slums) of Rio De Janeiro. The Favelas are accessed by foot traffic only, as the street and alleys are not wide enough for vehicles and are mostly stairways. Police only venture into the area in force and heavily armed, but on foot. The series (at least what is available as far as I know) consists of 3 discs with 6 half-hour episodes each. Fans of the movie City of God will notice similarities, but there are some differences. Mainly this TV series is not as dark, it has more humor and it has a positive message of the boys staying out of the gangs and off the drugs that dominate their neighborhood. The portrayal of teenage sexuality seems natural in the Brazilian context, but may put off some American viewers who apply their own standards of morality and political correctness to it. The one negative for me was that the English subtitles were fast and hard to follow, but with practice I was able to keep up by the end of the first disc. If you have trouble with subtitles that may bother you. Give the first disc a try and see if you can keep up. It is worth a little extra effort. For me it was an inconvenience I could live with, and I really enjoyed the series. If you like this series be sure to see the movie of the same name. The story continues and it gets even better.

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The Violin
 2005  3.4 stars 98 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: NR  until 27-May-2015

Reviewed on 30/Jun/08
This film had a profound affect on my psyche and cut into the depths of my soul. I feel for the filmmaker and everyone involved, and I have no doubt they put their lives and families at risk by showing a brutal and realistic portrayal of the government's treatment of indigenous insurgents. People who have little left to lose after being exploited and marginalized for centuries, who want no more than a little bit of land to grow some food, and a chance to raise their families in peace, to survive, and maybe a chance at an education for their children. This film is a masterpiece. To call it artsy would be an insult, but it is true art. It's art is manifested not in abstract imagery or melodrama, but in the sheer beauty of the stark reality of it's subject and the unflinching telling of the story. I saw no claims of being based on real events, but the universal truths are reflections of civilization since the beginning, as the weak, outnumbered and underprivileged are dominated and victimized by the powerful and corrupt. The film was not preachy or judgmental, but overwhelming in it's simplistic view of a dire situation, and it's message that anyone will fight back if pushed hard enough. With no heartwarming moments or sappy ending to lift one's spirits it may not be for the feint of heart or young children, but fans of Mexican cinema and serious drama will love this movie. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in filmmaking at it's best. You won't be disappointed.

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Zandalee
 1991  2.9 stars 100 mins Drama   Rated: R

Reviewed on 29/Jun/08
This is a quirky low budget affair. More erotic than thriller, this movie is blessed by the ravishing beauty of Erika Anderson's body and cursed by some of worse acting I've seen from Nicolas Cage. It's hard to believe he already had a dozen or so films under his belt when this was made including Raising Arizona, which he was good in. Judge Reinhold was okay. The plot was... well, what plot? You already know the whole story. A guy seduces his friend's wife (who happens to be ripe for the plucking). That was about it. Why were these guys friends? They never appeared to like each other. The backdrop of New Orleans helped make it worth watching. Apart from showing off her assets, I thought Erika Anderson's performance was the best of the lead actors, and the only believable character of the three. For me she made the movie.

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Keb' Mo': Sessions at West 54th
 1997  3.5 stars 68 mins Music & Musicals   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 28/Jun/08
This is very good. If you like the artist, then you will like the DVD. His style reminds me of Taj Mahal, although I like Taj even better. Some of his songs were almost too mellow for my tastes, but I really liked the bluesier stuff. Dr. John sat in on one song only. I can't say I was crazy about the whole thing but I did like it a lot. I do recommend it to blues fans, and if you like Keb' Mo' then it's a no brainer.

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Honeydripper
 2007  3.4 stars 123 mins Drama   Rated: PG-13  until 24-Jun-2011

Reviewed on 25/Jun/08
This is an easygoing, slow paced drama with some cool music. Danny Glover plays a night club owner who is stubborn and old fashioned and about to lose his business. Charles S. Dutton is his more likable sidekick. Keb' Mo' plays a blind street musician. Gary Clark Jr. plays a drifter with an electric guitar who gets arrested by the local sheriff (played by Stacy Keach) and sold to a cotton farmer for slave labor. If this sounds interesting you may like this film. It has good acting, but I'm still not really sure why I liked it as much as I did. There is no action to speak of, there is not a lot of music, and the drama is not intense. In spite of all that I really enjoyed this movie. I just can't put my finger on the reason why. That's why I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. Some viewers may find it boring, but if you are a fan of the actors in it, and you don't mind a slow mellow drama, then you might like it as I did.

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Mongol
 2007  3.8 stars 125 mins Foreign   Rated: R  until 19-Jan-2011

Reviewed on 23/Jun/08
This is a hard review for me to write, because I have such mixed feelings about this movie, and it's hard to explain without giving something away. First of all I really liked this film even though there were many things that bother me about it. Genghis Khan to me is one of the most fascinating historical figures and probably my favorite conqueror. For years I have waited for a good movie about him. I hope this film generates lots of copycats and sequels. This covers Temudjin's childhood and then his rise to power up to his uniting of the Mongol tribes. It left me wanting more. I think I would have preferred a more summarized version of that in order to see the Mongols conquer part of China. There were many convenient plot loopholes where the scene would change or some assumed mystical force would resolve a problem without explanation. Temudjin was a really nice guy, too nice in my opinion, and didn't start killing anyone until he was an adult, which I think goes against both history and legend. Also I think there was too much romance. On the positive side I really loved the cinematography with the vast panoramas of the mongolian country and the battle scenes were pretty good. Also the costumes and weaponry appeared pretty authentic, but I think the horses were too big. Please excuse me for picking it apart but I would have loved to love this movie and I only liked it a lot.

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Witless Protection
 2008  3.0 stars 97 mins Comedy   Rated: PG-13

Reviewed on 18/Jun/08
Whether you love or hate Larry the Cable Guy, there is a good chance you are more familiar with him than I am. This is only the second time I've seen him. The first time was in Delta Farce which I really liked, so I thought this would probably be good too, and I wasn't disappointed. I like comedy. Especially comedy that is funny. There are a lot of sitcoms on TV that are considered comedies but to me they are just not funny. This is funny. In fact it's hilarious. This is slapstick. Stupid childish falling down fat redneck fart joke funny. If you require more sophistication than that, then you had better look elsewhere. I also like smart comedies, parodies, even British dry humor. But for laugh out loud, knee slapping, rolling on the floor stress relief, stupid comedies are hard to beat, and this is a good one. I would feel stupid not recommending it. So lighten up and watch this stupid funny movie, if you think you can stand it.

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The Happening
 2008  2.9 stars 91 mins Sci-Fi & Fantasy   Rated: R

Reviewed on 16/Jun/08
Hoping to avoid the weekend Incredible Hulk crowds I opted instead to go see M. Night Shyamalan's latest endeavor. Having read various reviews of The Happening I saw that opinions varied widely as usual for his movies. So I went in with an open mind and parked my disbelief at the door. After all, his stories are always pretty far-fetched. Aware of some complaints about the ending I decided to enjoy the journey and not worry too much about the destination. Now I don't know how much my attitude affected the outcome of my experience, but I really enjoyed this movie. Eerie, surrealistic, and mysterious, this is great storytelling and the cinematography is remarkable. I don't like all of Mr. Shyamalan's films, but I really liked The Sixth Sense and The Village, and now this one. I didn't care for Unbreakable, Signs, or Lady in the Water. If you liked some or all of his previous films there is a good chance you will like this one. Also I must mention that this is his funniest movie to date, with some unexpected and refreshing humor providing some welcome comic relief. Overall it was very enjoyable for me. I think you will enjoy it too as long as you have an idea of what you are getting into. Don't expect realism or something believable because that's not what you'll get without giving up a little logic and skepticism. If you can do that I think you will find this film to be well worth your while, as I did.

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Funny Games
 2007  2.7 stars 111 mins Thrillers   Rated: R  starting 01-May-2010

Reviewed on 15/Jun/08
There was nothing for me to like about this. Even though I haven't seen the original, I know that had to be better. The synopsis says this is an indictment of the media's fascination with violence. Where did that come from? I don't see it. All I see is a bad movie. The two bad guys never had me convinced. Their characters were not believable to me, which meant they were not scary. The movie had no plot other than "two guys torture a family". Who were they? Why were they like that? Why were they like clones of each other? We will never know. I realize other viewers may see this differently, and this is my subjective point of view. One thing I give it, it's disgusting. For me it went from disgusting to boring about half way through then back to disgusting. It's not the torture that bothered me. Torture is fine but add some context to it. Naomi Watts and Tim Roth did a good job but for such great actors it's more like second nature and not anything special. It's possible I missed something but I'm not going to watch it again to try and find it. I will let you give it a try. It might work for you. For me it didn't even come close to working.

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La Sorpresa
 2007  3.0 stars 90 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 13/Jun/08
"La Sorpresa" means "the surprise" but there were no surprises here. It's a Mexican B movie. That part is okay. I like Latin American Cinema so I am willing to take a chance on some really obscure films like this one, once in a while. Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised and find a hidden gem, but not this time. It has good actors, but decent acting was not enough to make up for other areas that were lacking. Like some character development and a plot. Among the questions that were left unanswered was "what is this movie about?". The two lead actresses are beautiful and I suppose the two male leads might be good looking too. Apart from three or so more actors with bit parts, that was the whole cast. The sex and betrayal were not enough to make this an erotic thriller and the very limited nudity had no real exploitative value. I would recommend avoiding this movie unless you have nothing better to do, which I think would be unlikely.

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King of the Gypsies
 1978  3.0 stars 112 mins Drama   Rated: R

Reviewed on 12/Jun/08
This is an interesting, unflattering look at American Gypsies in New York. Eric Roberts plays a young Gypsy man named Dave who is disillusioned with the customs and lifestyles of his people so he runs away and tries to make it on his own in the city. He has a drunken abusive father who is played by Judd Hirsch. Sterling Hayden plays his grandfather and "King of the Tribe". When he dies he turns his leadership over to his unwilling grandson which greatly angers the abusive father. Susan Sarandon shines as Dave's mother and Brooke Shields has a small role as his little sister. Eric Roberts surprised me with a very good performance. The mood is dark and many of the characters are rather unlikable so don't expect a feel good movie. There are a few funny parts but this is basically a drama. Some very good music and some cool dancing add to the entertainment value, but don't worry, it's not a musical. I recommend this film to viewers who like seeing something different. I would rate it 3.5* but I'm rounding up to 4* because although it's not great, it's well above mediocre.

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Caribe
 2004  2.9 stars 90 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: NR  until 01-May-2010

Reviewed on 10/Jun/08
This is basically a soap opera about infidelity with a subplot of; beach town residents fight an American oil company to save the local ecology. Nice scenery and one very hot home wrecker. Not bad considering it's a Costa Rican movie.

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The Naked Prey
 1966  3.6 stars 96 mins Classics   Rated: NR

Reviewed on 09/Jun/08
Cornel Wilde produced, directed and starred in this amazing action adventure. The savagery and brutality of man and nature are portrayed to near perfection in this classic tale of survival. The killing and butchering of elephants for their ivory may upset sensitive animal lovers, but it appeared to be stock footage and not something that was done for the movie. The breathtaking scenery of the Transvaal (northern South Africa) and Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) is the backdrop for a story of a great white hunter running and fighting for his life while being hunted like an animal. Not too long and never boring, this is an edge of your seat adventure not soon to be forgotten. My only complaint is that the firearms appeared too modern for a time when the slave trade was still going on. But that is a minor detail I can live with. I first saw this movie on TV as a kid and it left a lasting impression. I saw it again on VHS many years ago and this is the third time (at least) I've seen it. Every time I watch it I love it as much as before. If you have never seen it now is a good time. I very highly recommend it.

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Belizaire the Cajun
 1986  3.4 stars 103 mins Romance   Rated: PG

Reviewed on 08/Jun/08
This is a great family film. Armand Assante really shines in his role as a cajun healer who loves a cajun woman who is married to the non-cajun son of a rich landowner. Although the story takes place in Louisiana this is a basically a Western in style and fans of that genre should like it. It is a very entertaining movie, one the whole family can enjoy. I highly recommend it.

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The Machine Girl
 2008  3.0 stars 96 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: NR  until 01-Jul-2010

Reviewed on 07/Jun/08
This is a tongue in cheek over the top gorefest. Not as bad as I expected or as good as I had hoped for. I watched it with the excellent English dubbing but you can watch it in Japanese with subtitles if you prefer. I'm not a real big gorehound and the neck and stump geysers were kind of annoying to me, but the dialogue and great stylized overacting made up for it. There were some really hilarious scenes, especially the drill bra. You will have to watch it to see what I mean. If you like outrageous, campy, bloody, comedy check this out. If not then don't bother. Viewer discretion advised!

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Boarding Gate
 2007  2.2 stars 102 mins Thrillers   Rated: R  until 01-Sep-2011

Reviewed on 04/Jun/08
This film is kind of weird. I believe it is French which partly explains the artsy trashy quirkiness. However it's mostly in English (not dubbed) with subtitles occasionally when they are speaking French or Chinese. I like Asia Argento. That's why I'm willing to give most if not all of her movies a chance. For me they are hit or miss but I always like Asia. I like Michael Madsen too but here he was too low key and seemed to be under acting. Or was that just bad acting? Asia was typically brilliant but I think her potential would be better realized in a better movie. I would love to see her in something directed by Tarantino or Rodriguez. The first part of the movie seemed to drag as I waited for something to happen. Later on it picked up and I really started enjoying it. Towards the end it started to fizzle but overall ended up pretty good. Viewers who are into quirky B foreign flicks will probably like this, but most mainstream movie viewers will be turned off by the weirdness and low production values. I didn't love this film but I can't say I didn't like it. You may want to take a chance on it and judge for yourself. What have you got to lose?

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The Take
 2007  3.1 stars 99 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R  until 26-Sep-2010

Reviewed on 03/Jun/08
John Leguizamo is a great actor in my opinion and this heist flick is evidence to support that assertion. As an armored car driver who gets shot in the head and left for dead, then struggles to recover and find the man who did it to him, he brings a high level of realism and raw emotion to the screen without over acting. He is one of the most underrated actors today. His performance in this movie is phenomenal. Rosie Perez also does a great job as his loving wife. Apart from being a good actress she is still looking good at 43. Tyrese Gibson plays a brutal sociopath who doesn't hesitate to kill for what he wants and he is very convincing in this role. You won't have to give up anything to enjoy this film. It won't require you to leave your brain behind and there are no plot holes to forgive. This is not a major studio production but it is by no means a B movie. We're talking quality here. A hidden gem indeed. It has some brief nudity and a sex scene and some moderate graphic violence so viewer discretion is advised. This is an excellent edgy adult action drama and I highly recommend it.

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The White Dawn
 1974  3.2 stars 109 mins Classics   Rated: PG

Reviewed on 28/May/08
Marooned whalers are rescued by Eskimos in this excellent outdoor drama. Native Americans living in the Arctic are now usually referred to as Inuit, but when this movie was made they were still called Eskimos. Louis Gosset Jr. plays Portagee, a superstitious harpooner from Brazil and Timothy Bottoms is his good hearted companion. Warren Oats rounds out the trio as a bull-headed borderline sociopath. All three give stellar performances, as do even the native actors. This is a very authentic look at survival in the far north and the customs of the Eskimos at the time of European encroachment into their world. Excellent acting and directing and the stark beauty of the north help to create a story of survival as well as love, lust, betrayal, and revenge. There is some nudity and graphic violence including the killing of animals, so viewer discretion is advised. The Inuit actors speak only in their native tongue (with English subtitles) which adds to the realism. If you are interested in native cultures or just want to see a good movie and don't mind some raw brutality and a not so happy ending, this one is for you. I highly recommend it.

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Crossroads
 1986  3.7 stars 99 mins Drama   Rated: R  until 01-Sep-2010

Reviewed on 27/May/08
Ralph Macchio (The Karate Kid) plays a Juilliard student of classical guitar who's heart and mind are somewhere else. He's a young hotshot who wants to (and thinks he can) play the Blues. He has the technical skills but has yet to pay his dues. He finds Blues legend Willie Brown (aka Blind Dog Fulton) in an old folks home and wants Willie to help him find Robert Johnson's long lost song so he can make his mark as a Bluesman (folklore has it that Robert Johnson wrote 30 songs and only 29 got recorded). Willie convinces the naive teenager to help him get back to Mississippi to wrap up some unfinished business. Thus begins a coming of age and road trip story that is predictable but satisfying. It's the Karate Kid all over again with a musical twist. I would expect that anyone who loves the Blues will like this movie, and I heartily recommend it to all kinds of music and movie lovers.

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Blind Justice
 1994  2.9 stars 85 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R

Reviewed on 26/May/08
This is a tongue in cheek dark comedy western complete with cliches, cheesy one liners, campy over acting and ridiculous story line. In other words it's a great B movie! It's got spaghetti western written all over it, and it's actually very well done. Only those who like their westerns serious will complain. Armand Assante is great and I think this is the best role I've seen him play. I expected more from Elizabeth Shue, who I thought was rather bland. I can think of a couple of things that could have helped her performance, but she was okay. Jack Black has a bit part that is nothing to shout about. All told it was Armand Assante that makes this movie a pleasure to watch and I recommend it for a good time if you can handle the schlock!

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Shattered
 2007  3.5 stars 98 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 25/May/08
This is an edge of your seat, suspenseful thriller. It is hard to describe without spoilers but I will resist the temptation to say too much. Apart from one unbelievable out of place plot hole that was atypical of an otherwise great story, this turned out to be an excellent movie. What's a flaw or two? Most movies have them. On the other hand the acting was flawless. The three lead actors give peak performances and are clearly at the top of their game. The ending is clear and satisfying as all the loose ends are tied up. No interpretation required. Although rated R, the violence, language, and adult content are minimal and relatively family friendly. In my opinion it should be okay for any young person mature enough to be interested in thrillers.

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The Flock
 2006  3.0 stars 96 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 25/May/08
This movie is a blend of genres and as such will probably not satisfy many viewers. It's part serious drama/ thriller and wannabe horror flick. Fans of serious Drama will not appreciate the exploitative nature of the gore. Hard core Horror fans will find the gore factor to be inadequate and wish for more. Fans of psychological thrillers who are not too critical may enjoy it. The acting is top rate. Richard Gere is very convincing as a man with deep emotional scars caused by the nature of his work. Claire Danes also gives an excellent performance as a fresh naive woman who is torn between (and frightened by) her partner and the sex offenders they are investigating. For me this movie is good but not great and I can't recommend it highly, but I believe some viewers will find it to be worth watching.

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The Great Debaters
 2007  4.1 stars 124 mins Drama   Rated: PG-13

Reviewed on 15/May/08
This movie had a profound effect on me. I admit I'm a sucker for a good drama. Although I usually prefer my dramas to be darker, sometimes a positive message can be an inspiring and enjoyable way to spend an evening. The beautiful cinematography and the fine acting are mesmerizing and had an almost surrealistic effect. The feel good message and the likability of the characters are enough to propel the story onto a higher moral plane that overshadowed the underlying sick and cruel undercurrent of racism that permeates the film. Shocking and sad, the violence inherent in 1930's Texan society took a back seat to a story of hope and change. While based on a true story, like all movies of this type, the accuracy of the details is suspect. Still, I prefer to give it the benefit of the doubt. Here the goal seems to be to educate and entertain at the same time. I feel like this film ultimately succeeds at that and it is also a work of art. I highly recommend it.

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Redbelt
 2008  3.4 stars 99 mins Drama   Rated: R

Reviewed on 12/May/08
I was expecting this to be a Martial Arts movie. It started out pretty good. It had good acting, some decent character development and what appeared to be a good story with potential. About half way through it started to drag and then the story started falling apart. The last half of the movie became convoluted, contrived, boring and moronic. The plot was understandable but not believable. Even so some decent action could have saved it. After all it's a Martial Arts flick, right? I thought it was, but apparently not. So far there hadn't been any real fighting, just a scene or two of some training in the dojo, and one very short bar fight. There was an implied hope of a good fight at the end. When that fight did actually occur I found that the director chose to employ the hand held shaky camera technique that unfortunately is so popular these days. What was the point? Was it to cover up some sub standard fight choreography? I'm sure it wasn't just to irritate me. By the time it reached the ridiculous and sappy ending, this movie had failed in my opinion, and I very much do not recommend it.

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Emerald Cowboy
 2003  2.0 stars 90 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: R

Reviewed on 10/May/08
This is a low budget Colombian movie (and apparently true story) about a Japanese emerald dealer from Los Angeles named Eishy Hayata. As if that weren't odd enough they cast a Hispanic (Lucho Velasco, Colombian?) to play the part of the young Hayata for the first half of the movie, which takes place in the 1970's and 80's. That seems like an odd choice. In the second half, Eishy Hayata plays himself and the movie gets even better and becomes a sort of Docu-Drama. About a third of the dialogue is in English (not dubbed) while the rest is in Spanish (with English subtitles). Although the production values leave a lot to be desired, the uniqueness of this movie is noteworthy. Also the story is so fascinating and the scenery so magnificent it truly makes for a worthwhile experience. Sure it has some flaws, but I would watch it again. For sure. Did I mention it has a fair amount of action? Little or no profanity, no sex or drugs, and violence is not too graphic, so don't worry about the kids. Unusual, unique, and different, I recommend this to those not looking for perfection, but for a new movie viewing adventure.

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Firestarter
 1984  3.5 stars 115 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 09/May/08
Drew Barrymore really shines as the girl with pyrokinetic powers in this fun Sci-Fi thriller. She is the star around which the rest of the cast orbit. While George C. Scott is memorable in his portrayal of the most evil character in the script, his is a supporting role that serves to cement Drew as the star. Martin Sheen is gleefully wicked as well and David Keith plays the father who lovingly supports his daughter despite her destructive tendencies. Fortunately this movie does not deal in morality, and as the story develops so do the death, destruction and awesome pyrotechnics. The special effects are excellent, and just get better as it builds to it's climactic ending. I really like this movie and I highly recommend it.

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Paulie
 1997  3.3 stars 92 mins Comedy   Rated: PG

Reviewed on 08/May/08
Everyone knows some parrots can talk. Have you ever known one that can talk like a human and that's just as smart too? No? Then obviously you have never met Paulie. Well what are you waiting for? This movie needs to be seen. It needs to be seen by anyone who has had a stressful day, or has lost their faith in humanity. It needs to be seen by all animal lovers, and bird lovers in particular. It needs to be seen by fans of Tony Shalhoub and Cheech Marin. It especially needs to be seen by anyone who has kids (seen with them of course). If you are old enough or young enough to push the play button, this is for you. Take a break from the dark and dreary dramas, the explosive mind numbing action flicks, and take a flight of fantasy and delight. It's inspiring and heartwarming, sad at times but never for long, but most of all it's just plain fun. Give it a chance and you will love it as I do.

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Y Tu Mamá También
 2001  3.8 stars 105 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: UR

Reviewed on 08/May/08
This seems to be a love it or hate it affair. I'm on the love it side with a few reservations. At first the voiceover and subtitles seemed a bit convoluted with the introduction of the characters and their relationships. After a while I got used to the voiceover and it felt right as it helped to tell the story. This is an excellent comedy/ drama about a couple of spoiled rich brats, on a belated coming of age road trip with a sensuous and seductive older woman. The two male lead characters Tenoch and Julio (played by Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal) are obnoxious but ultimately likable. The charming Luisa played by Maribel Verdu is a tortured soul who escapes with her new found friends for reasons of her own and wreaks havoc on the hormones of the two boys. The interactions between the three friends are disturbing at times but totally believable and very realistic in my opinion. If it wasn't for a couple of scenes that bothered me I would have given this movie a 5 star rating and objectively speaking it may deserve it. Be warned there are some graphic sexual scenes that may upset the sensibilities of some viewers and it is definitely not for children. Ignore the last part of the last sentence of the synopsis. There is absolutely nothing in this film that has anything to do with poverty. I don't know where they got that from. What is does have is great writing, directing, acting, and cinematography, with beautiful scenery of the beaches and the Mexican countryside.

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Red Rock West
 1993  3.4 stars 98 mins Thrillers   Rated: R  starting 01-Jun-2010

Reviewed on 08/May/08
Nicolas Cage plays a man who is down on his luck and who appears to have more cajones than brains in this exciting thriller. Every move he makes seems to be the wrong one. He might have thought it seemed like a good idea at the time, each time he made a another mistake, but he ends up fighting to survive more than just once or twice. Dennis Hopper steals the show with his crazy over the top portrayal of a hardened criminal with a sense of humor that his intended victims just don't appreciate. This is a low budget movie with a high budget appeal for fans of modern day film noir. It's a definite must see for fans of Nicolas Cage and in my opinion it's one of his better movies.

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Rosario Tijeras
 2005  3.4 stars 117 mins Foreign (Spanish)   Rated: R

Reviewed on 07/May/08
This is awesome. It's an erotic thriller and a romance and a serious dark drama with some action. Flora Martinez is sizzling hot, and she puts on a superb performance. Although not quite as good as either, this movie reminded me a lot of both City of God and Scarface. Don't look for it to be the same, it just reminded me. One major difference is this movie has a lot more sex and nudity. So it won't be for the kids, also because of the rampant drug use. Of course that's up to parental discretion. This is the best Colombian movie I've seen to date and you can bet I will be looking for more hidden gems like this. The English subtitles lose a little in the translation, but not enough to ruin it. It may appeal more to those who understand Spanish (like yours truly) than to the average subtitle reader. I only noticed them getting too fast a couple of times. I've seen worse. If you are looking for a good action/ drama/ erotic thriller with a good story, great acting and a heavy dose of sex and violence, including a killer femme fatal, Rosario Tijeras may be right up your alley. I recommend it.

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One Little Indian
 1973  3.2 stars 90 mins Children & Family   Rated: G

Reviewed on 06/May/08
Is that James Garner on a camel? Yep, sure is. That's funny. He was great in this. So was a cute 10 or 11 year old Jodi Foster. This is wholesome feel-good Disney fare, sappy and heartwarming, great for the whole family. Serve it up with a big bowl of popcorn. Sit back and enjoy.

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The Target
 2002  2.2 stars 94 mins Thrillers   Rated: R

Reviewed on 06/May/08
This is a quirky independent thriller. The cinematography is outstanding and the acting is excellent. Sure there were a few plot holes and a couple of huh?'s but overall it is worth watching and at least it is original. Half way through the movie there is a turning point where redemption and rebirth take over for pride and arrogance. A cold hard dark drama transforms into a thing of beauty. You won't get a clue from the synopsis of what this movie is about. The only thing they got right was the two lead actors' names. They also failed to mention that it was filmed in Cape Town, South Africa. It's actually a foreign film. But don't worry it is in English. If it wasn't for a problem with the accents and some other details I might have given it 5 stars. Still I liked it a lot, and I think you might too if you don't mind something different and cut it a little slack.

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Ilsa, Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks
 1976  2.8 stars 85 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: R

Reviewed on 05/May/08
After seeing Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS which I liked a lot for it's exploitative senselessness and depravity, I added this to my queue, but I put it off for months because I thought it wouldn't be nearly as good judging from the reviews of it. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how good (bad) it was (funny too). This one is definitely going on my "so bad it's good" list. This must be a cult classic. If it's not it should be. Sick, twisted and depraved, it is only for fans of B exploitation flicks. It's actually an action/ adventure flick too... sort of. At least more so than the first Ilsa. Lots of gratuitous sex and violence. Actually not much sex but lots of female nudity done in a tasteless and titillating manner that makes this a sexploitation jewel in my opinion. Don't rent it if you will be offended, but for fans of exploitation I highly recommend it. I also recommend seeing Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS, and it doesn't matter which one you see first.

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The Sugarland Express
 1974  3.2 stars 109 mins Classics   Rated: PG  until 31-Jul-2010

Reviewed on 05/May/08
According to the synopsis this is Steven Spielburg's first film. Actually Duel was his first (made for TV). This is a fun chase flick and funny at times. I don't rate it higher because it seemed kind of dated and for some reason that I can't put my finger on I don't think I would watch it again. Once is enough. Goldie Hawn was good although her acting was over the top and her character obnoxious. It seems odd that it has a PG rating, it seems more like PG-13. I think they were more liberal with their ratings back then. Anyway I don't think it would be good for young kids. All in all it was a worthwhile watch, and I recommend it at least to Spielburg fans, and also anyone who loves a good chase flick.

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Iron Man
 2008  4.2 stars 126 mins Action & Adventure   Rated: PG-13

Reviewed on 04/May/08
Robert Downey Jr. as a super hero? Heck yeah! He played the part to perfection. Jeff Bridges has never been better and Gwyneth Paltrow is getting better with age. The computer graphics were top notch. The story was well told and there were aptly timed moments of comic relief. As comic book super hero movies go I think this is one of the best if not the best. It's a good one for the big screen so see it at the theater if you can. I highly recommend it.

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Hula Girls
 2006  3.7 stars 120 mins